Black-Capped Chicadee with a toe tumor??

As the fall draws nigh one of the things that really cheers me up is the return of the chicadees, nuthatches and titmice!! They are here all year but seldom frequent the feeders until late summer. I was taking some shots today and noticed this chap perching on only one leg. I stuck around and waited awhile to see if he was injured or something and noticed a large growth on his middle toe. I don't know if it is the result of an injury or what. Doesn't seem to impede him much luckily.

Poor guy.... Looks healthy and very cute but that is sad...

Nice captures and yes, it is sad... You gotta know it bothers him as he holds up his leg like that... Poor guy..

Very odd indeed.

Good you captured it. You should forward the image to your state conservation or department of natural resources and see what they say. It would be interesting to follow up on this.

Awww, poor little guy That must be very sore

Nice captures...That has to hurt. I don't know what you could do other than put it down. I am sure that nature will deal with it. Sounds harsh, but such is life.

Jeff

alohabob wrote in post #6125828
Poor guy.... Looks healthy and very cute but that is sad...

Isn't it

Stormin_24 wrote in post #6126404
Nice captures and yes, it is sad... You gotta know it bothers him as he holds up his leg like that... Poor guy..

It does loook quite sore but she seems otherwise OK.

Naturalist wrote in post #6126414
Very odd indeed.

Good you captured it. You should forward the image to your state conservation or department of natural resources and see what they say. It would be interesting to follow up on this.

I think she'll be a frequent guest at the feeder and I will definitely keep an eye on her. At first I though maybe it was a tick but it sure doesn't look like that. I will find out to whom I should report it.

Anke wrote in post #6126417
Awww, poor little guy That must be very sore

I agree it looks quite tender but I went out later in the evening and she was still coming and going from the feeder and singing away loud and sweet.

Damn, it's Avian Pox. The same thing Duanes eagle chick got on it's beak. It is contagious and spreads from contact. It can be cured, but you have to catch the bird and keep it in a cage to give it the medicine, and then it can still be contagious. It's a terrible, terrible disease. You can Google for more info.

canonloader wrote in post #6127111
Damn, it's Avian Pox. The same thing Duanes eagle chick got on it's beak. It is contagious and spreads from contact. It can be cured, but you have to catch the bird and keep it in a cage to give it the medicine, and then it can still be contagious. It's a terrible, terrible disease. You can Google for more info.

Ah man! Do you really think so? I went to the USGS website and sent a picture to the person listed as a resource for the disease as well as to a friend of mine who is a biologist and in charge of our IBA. I'll keep you posted.

canonloader wrote in post #6127111
Damn, it's Avian Pox. The same thing Duanes eagle chick got on it's beak. It is contagious and spreads from contact. It can be cured, but you have to catch the bird and keep it in a cage to give it the medicine, and then it can still be contagious. It's a terrible, terrible disease. You can Google for more info.

Oh dear, that's not good news at all. Does it travel across different birds?

Yes, unfortunately, it's pretty clear what it is. I have researched it many times. It seems to be all too common and I am not sure if it is cause I am more aware of it now, more people are taking pics of birds so we see it more now, or it's because it is contageous and feeders are unnatural ways for birds to congregate and spread diseases.

No bird is immune to it, Duanes eagle chick got it on his beak of all places. How does a baby bird that has never left his nest get a disease like that? It seems to be very prevelant on feet, which I can understand, if birds use the same perches a lot, like at my feeders. But how on earth do you disinfect branches on a Lilac bush?

Well, I heard back from the vet at the USGS where I sent the pics and Mitch is right Avian Pox
Here are two URLs the vet sent me if anyone is interested in researching.

http://www.nwhc.usgs.g​ov …er_diseases/avi​an_pox.jsp
http://www.nwhc.usgs.g​ov …eld_manual/chap​ter_19.pdf

Poor thing.

Mitch, it was determined that the Eaglet got Avian Pox from a mosquito bite (that's what the experts at the wildlife center think)...the adults weren't 'at risk' as much as a younger bird in development with a lower immune system....adult birds can fight it off better because all their energy isn't spent growing so to speak....

They also say they're more then likely to get it on their unfeathered areas....eyes, feet and beak.

It is treatable with antibiotics but I would leave it to the experts if you want to go that route...I would also consider taking your feeders down because it is contagious and alot of visitors hit feeders.

Yes, definitely take down your feeders, and clean them. If at all possible, catch the bird and try to get it to a rehabber. That way if it has to be put down, at least it won't be infecting other birds. Sad to see it on such a cute little chickadee!