Foot scale on a wild bird...

[Junco]

Hi there, this isn't the introdution I would hope for, but well I'm just concerned about one of my yard buddies, and thought maybe someone here might be able to help me...

I was just looking through my pictures that I've accumulated over the past few weeks, and I noticed something strange on one of the birds that frequents our only bird feeder. It's a male house finch, and he looked normal on June 15th when this picture was taken...


Then something odd happened between then and the 28th, as he appears to have some kind of swelling/growth going on with his right leg.





I've never seen anything like this, at first I thought it was just that he was being very messy with his food, but here he is again with his girl the following day.




He seems to be the only one that is showing symptoms so far. Now, I understand, if it is mites that is causing this strange swelling, there are several treatments available for pet birds. Well, he's not a pet bird. Is there anything I can do for him? His female friend has not shown any symptoms yet, but if it's possible, I'd like to prevent a severe infection.

So... does it look like a mite infection? Anything I can do? How effective would GSE in a bird bath be? Is it possible that the mites could live on/in the feeder and move to other birds?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[chapala]

I'm not sure what's wrong with his foot, but I wouldn't put GSE in a bird bath since birds drink the water and the added chemical in GSE destroys gut flora. I think you have to let nature take its course in the case of this wild bird. He may have an infection that will clear up, at least one can hope.

[Junco]

Oh thanks! I didn't know that about GSE...

[usamma]

I just found this thread for you-- I think this is what your little friend has.

Female Chaffinch - Foot - Wild About Britain