Do bird feeders encourage the spread of conjunctivitis?
Whenever birds are concentrated in a small area, the risk of a disease spreading within that population increases. Even so, feeding birds may not necessarily increase the rate of disease spread, and should not have a net negative impact on the House Finch population. House Finch Disease Survey data tell us that the disease has decreased from epidemic proportions and is now restricted to a smaller percentage of the population. We estimate that 5% to 10% of the eastern House Finch population has this disease and that the dramatic spread that occurred a few years ago has leveled out. This means that it is still an important and harmful disease, but that House Finch populations are not currently at extreme risk of widespread population declines. The best preventive measure is to clean your feeders on a regular basis even when there are no signs of disease. We invite you to join the House Finch Disease Survey! The House Finch Disease Survey is an unprecedented opportunity for you to help re
