The other day, I was out in my yard, camera at the ready, trying to capture some of the feathered visitors flitting around. That’s when I spotted an American Robin that caught my eye for all the wrong reasons. One of its eyes looked awful!
Concerned, I did some digging online and what I found made me even more worried. The robin might have had mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, also known as finch eye disease.
Now, I’m no bird doctor, but the symptoms seemed to fit. This disease, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum, first showed up in Eastern House Finches. Since then, it’s been spotted in other songbirds like American Goldfinches, Purple Finches, and even sparrows.
The key signs? Imagine a bird with terribly puffy eyelids, watery discharge, and crusting around its eyes – that’s mycoplasmal conjunctivitis in action. Apparently, the disease spreads through contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces, like bird feeders.
What struck me most was learning that this disease wasn’t limited to finches anymore. Robins, like the one I saw, can also contract this disease. While they’re frequent visitors to my birdbath, I haven’t observed them using my feeders. This isn’t surprising, as robins are primarily ground foragers. They focus their energy on finding worms and insects rather than the seeds typically offered in feeders.
While I do my part to keep my feeders and birdbath clean regularly, I can’t control the practices of my neighbors. This brings us to the question – what can we do to minimize the spread of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis in our backyards?
Here are some ways we can help:
- Maintain squeaky clean feeders and birdbaths: This is the most crucial step. Regularly clean your feeders with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) and rinse them thoroughly. For birdbaths, scrub them weekly and replace the water frequently, especially during hot weather.
- Remove feeders temporarily during outbreaks: If you notice a high number of birds with eye problems in your area, consider taking down your feeders for a couple of weeks. This can help disrupt the transmission cycle.
- Offer a variety of feeder types: While robins may not be interested in seed feeders, catering to different bird species with various feeder styles can help disperse birds and reduce crowding around a single feeder.
By taking these steps, we can create a healthier environment for the beautiful songbirds that grace our backyards. If you notice a bird with symptoms of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, it’s best to let nature take its course. Many birds recover on their own. However, maintaining a clean birding environment is the best line of defense we can offer these feathered friends.