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Need Help With Sick Finches!



I am having a number of sick goldfinches and Pine siskins at my feeders and
I am at a loss as to what to do.  I have had for the past several months a
regular feeding flock of about 75 goldfinches and some 30 pine siskins.
About two weeks ago I saw my first sick female goldfinch.  She was feeding
on the ground under the feeders, and her body was all swollen and feathers
puffed out.  She was feeding continuously, seemed a little wobbly on her
feet, and when I would go out near the feeder, she would not fly from me
like the other birds.  But she could fly and fly well when the neighbor's
cat came around.  It seemed as though the bird had something oozing from
it's mouth, as the thistle and sunflower hulls would stick to its beak in a
cluster.  The following evening I had two female goldfinches all bloated
with the same symptoms.  I have not found any dead birds in and around my
yard.  I then went for 1 1/2 weeks with no sick birds, and then last night I
had two Pine siskins with the same symptoms.  Tonight I have a Male
goldfinch that is sick and bloated.  I watched him feed continuously on the
thistle feeder, and he had a huge cluster of seed hulls on his beak.  Then
he flew to the birdbath, and as he drank it washed the seed hulls off.  I
could tell he seemed to have trouble swallowing the water.  Then he returned
to feed some more.  I cleaned all my feeders a week ago.  Don't have a clue
as to what is wrong. None of my other regular feeders, ie. Chickadees,
Titmice, Cardinals, Sparrows, etc., are displaying any of these symptoms
that I've noticed.  Will appreciate any information or advice that anyone
can offer. Do these symptoms sound familiar to any of you?  You can reply
either to the list or to me privately, whichever you feel is more
appropriate. Thanks.

Ann Cook
Blowing Rock, NC
acook@boone.net