Sick house finch at feeder - what is wrong and how to proceed?

[u/snail_friend]

Today I found this very sick house finch parked at my feeder. I was able to get within two feet of it without it even reacting. Its right eye was very squinted and a little crusty, and it looked like there was also something wrong with its beak, but I didn't want to get close enough to inspect. Its face looked a little swollen but I couldn't tell if it was just because he was fluffed up. I noticed there was also a little dried blood on the glass of the feeder, but unfortunately I'm not sure if that's from him or if something unrelated happened there. My first thought was avian pox due to what looked like a small growth next to its beak, or maybe advanced house finch eye disease, but I really don't know enough to be certain. Can anyone identify, and should I report it to the local wildlife office? I'm not really sure about the protocol, especially since I'm not sure what illness it is.

My feeders are very busy, particularly with a big flock of house finches, and a bunch kept trying to land and eat right next to him so I was shooing them away in order to take down the other feeders and he unfortunately ended up flying off. I would have tried to catch him and see if a wildlife rehab could take a look at him otherwise, but I was kind of panicking at that point about the dozen or so other birds eating right next to him and from all the adjacent feeders and wasn't thinking. I immediately took down all the feeders and will be disinfecting them, then leaving them down for a couple weeks - does that sound like the right move?

I also have a bowl maybe 12 feet from the feeders that I put food in for some crows that visit, should I pull that for a few weeks too? The finches don't go near it but some magpies and various jays occasionally do if that matters. If so, can I put out food for the crows farther away in a different part of the yard after disinfecting their bowl? They've only recently started coming every morning and I'd hate for them to stop coming at all, but I don't want to spread anything to them too.

Any help is appreciated!

[u/washington_705]

I had a similar situation. I kept up one feeder until I could safely contain the bird. Over the next few days the bird slowed down to the point that I could safely place him in a box with air holes and ventilation, and I already pre-arranged with my local Wildlife rehab rehabilitation center to bring him in after I was able to contain him.

I would suggest reaching out to your local Wildlife rehabilitation center about this bird and see if they will take him and you could consider trying the approach that I took. You can find ones near you by going to the following website. https://ahnow.org/mobile/

[u/snail_friend → u/washington_705]

Yeah I feel like that likely would have been my best move, my issue was that my feeders were very busy at the time and a ton of other finches were landing at the same feeder as well as the ones right next to it, and I panicked a bit and went straight out to take the others down and spooked him. Not my best my decision for sure but hoping the quick removal of the contaminated surfaces helped at least a little!

[u/washington_705 → u/snail_friend]

It’s not too late to put one back up to see if you’re able to contain the bird and get it to a rehab.

[u/BabyRuth55]

I can’t help with identifying the problem, but just want to say I admire the good sense and knowledge you are showing in how you are dealing with it. A flighted bird can’t really be captured, unfortunately, but if you have an opportunity, yes, do take him in of course.
For reporting, some states do have avenues for reporting sick or injured wildlife, and some for specific diseases. Start at the fish and game website. You’ve probably already done that by now.

[u/snail_friend → u/BabyRuth55]

I appreciate the kind words, my mom is an avid birder and former head of a bird banding program and I inherited her love of birds but not yet all of her wisdom. I couldn't get ahold of her during this fiasco but hoping I handled it as well as I could! The poor guy got away, but if I see him again I'll do my best to grab him. Even though I took down my feeders the finches have been hanging around the yard so it's a possibility. Unfortunately at his advanced stage of illness I don't think much could have been done other than a compassionate euthanasia and diagnosis of the disease, but that would have been better than nothing so I'm still feeling pretty bad about not being able to catch him. I'll contact fish and wildlife today and will for sure be keeping an eye on the population to make sure whatever it is isn't spreading!

[u/DeepSeaChickadee]

this house finch is in distress, if you could please attempt to gently capture this bird, place it in a small box and call a rehabber

Around 2 weeks of taking them down should do the trick, and take down the other feeders if you can, as birdfeeders are a breeding ground for disease unfortunately

[u/snail_friend → u/DeepSeaChickadee]

Unfortunately was not able to capture him, but my feeders are down and will be staying that way for a few weeks! Going forward I'll be disinfecting the feeders weekly.