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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
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20-12-2009, 06:55 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Afflicted Great Tits
Over at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve today there were three different great tits with unsightly growths on their heads...      
They can't all be the reincarnation of John Merrick and there are no nuclear power stations in Sevenoaks so I'm guessing it's either a parasite or a genetic defect. The reason I throw genetic in as a possibility is that none of the blue tits were similarly aflicted, so I'm wondering if these are three birds from the same brood.
They were all very active and still feeding okay but they all had the habit of rubbing their heads against branches. Not sure if this was because the growths are itchy or they were trying to knock them off... 
Has anyone seen this before or know what it is?
Dave P.
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20-12-2009, 07:00 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
Avian pox seems to be very common in Great tits. In some cases it is not harmful, but if its a severe case it can kill the bird. |
20-12-2009, 07:02 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
Blimey, that was fast Dogghound! And is that what this is - avian pox?
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
20-12-2009, 07:05 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
Just Googled "Avian Pox" and found this on the BTO web site... Avian pox is another possible cause of wart-like growths on a bird and can occur in two forms. In the most common form (cutaneous pox), wart-like growths form around the eyes, beak and on unfeathered skin, including the legs. Sounds about right.
Blue tits must be more resistant.
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
20-12-2009, 07:05 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
Yes, looks spot on to me. Blue tits do get it (most birds infact). |
20-12-2009, 07:55 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: near Cambridge
Posts: 2,005
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
That's a sad sight Dave 
Jeff |
20-12-2009, 08:02 PM
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,025
| | | Re: Afflicted Great Tits
It is indeed Jeff, although some birds do survive it and become immune.
Been reading some more about it on the RSPB site. They have a disease monitoring section that works alongside the BTO and there's a form you can fill in to report such things. Full details (and the form) at The RSPB: Advice: I've seen birds with growths on their heads, bottoms and necks. Is this harmful to them?. Just sent mine off...
Dave P.
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