Disturbing Observation.

[Jon Holmes]

Hi,

This year i have noticed an alarming number of birds with a damaged or deformed club foot. I have seen this on pigeons, seagulls, female pheasants, dunnocks & thrush at an alarming rate. It could be that i have never noticed this before but i thought id see if anyone else has noticed this.

All incidents have occurred in the New Forest in the vicinity of Fawley Power Station.

[Jenny W]

There is a virus that causes this on the feet and legs of birds, called Papillomavirus and commonly referred to as 'bumblefoot'. It's common in Chaffinches in particular (in terms of wild birds), but I think it's more common in things like Parrots.

Dunnocks also seem to be particularly prone to various types of ailments such as bumblefoot.

[Vectisbirder]

I don't think Fawley Power Station is to blame, I have seen this on feet of birds over here on the Isle of Wight and, as Jenny says, it's a virus. Papillomavirus is nasty stuff, in humans (Human Papillomavirus) it is the cause of cervical cancer.

[Jon Holmes]

Thanks for your replies.