Date: 1/25/26 4:24 pm From: 'Emily Szczypek' via Arlington Birds <arlingtonbirds...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Bird in distress in Arlington Heights -- ID?
Thanks, Susan, for doing a "busman's" holiday, working & giving great information even when you're not on site!
What a great organization Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton is!! So glad it exists!!!
Helped a friend bring a Canada Goose with fishing line wrapped around its leg there. Some people hate Canada Geese but didn't want to see it suffer needlessly.
Yeah Patriots!!!!
Appreciatively,
Emily Szczypek
On Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 02:10:12 PM EST, Susan Moses <snmnmoses...> wrote:
Hi -
If the bird has conjunctivitis it can be treated at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton. The Clinic is closed for the rest of today because of the weather, but may re-open tomorrow afternoon.
In the meantime, if you are able to catch the bird (you can use a small towel to scoop it up), put it (towel and all) in a small box with air holes and a secure lid, and keep it in a warm quiet place overnight. Call the Clinic mid-morning (508-839-7918) and leave a message and someone will call you back. If you can’t catch it, try to keep an eye on it in case it declines (in which case it will be easier to catch).
You can email me directly if you have any questions (I work at the Clinic).
Thanks.
Susan MosesCambridge, MA
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 25, 2026, at 12:38 PM, Grayson Shannon <glshannon2003...> wrote:
Hello!
This is an American Goldfinch that appears to have something wrong with its eye. I’m not an expert in the matter, but this looks like avian conjunctivitis (or “House Finch Eye Disease”). Avian conjunctivitis is extremely contagious, and unfortunately there isn’t much you can do for this individual. It may recover from the illness, or it may not. Sick or injured birds are much more likely to get preyed upon. (I don’t believe there is current evidence to suggest that a predator (especially a non-avian one) could get sick from this)
That said, currently most advice out there suggests that the best thing you can do is not for this bird but for the others around it. Take down your feeders and clean them (we should all be doing this regularly!) Some advise leaving your feeders down for a few weeks - this gives time for the infected bird to either recover or die, while lowering the risk of exposing other birds. It is sad, but sometimes the best we can do is allow nature to take its course.
