[Birding-Aus] sick currawong - white feet
Caroline Kelly
This pied currawong was feeding in our backyard today - it appears to have
some sort of viral/fungal disease on its legs and feet. Anyone know what
this is/seen it before?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/caro7/currawong.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/caro7/curra_close_up.jpg
Thanks
Caroline, Southport, Gold Coast, South East QLD
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inger vandyke
Just my humble opinion. If it's not mud, then I would assume this could be
a manifestation of poor diet in the bird. Do you live in a highly populated
area? Or near a rubbish tip?
I have seen domestic pigeons with growths gnarling their feet and always
assumed this is diet related.
Would be interested to know from others if this is the case?
Cheers,
Inger
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Caroline Kelly
Wow that was quick! Thanks all for the responses - I've pasted them all
below as some replied to me privately (I hope that is ok?).
Does Cnemidocoptic mites = Scaley leg mite = bumblefoot?
I should note here that I don't feed this or any other bird - and I really
don't like my chances of catching it! It doesn't appear to be disabled in
any other way - flies/walks/feeds just fine... and the beak appeared
unaffected. We do live in a built up urban area - and not near a rubbish
tip... or chicken/poultry farm... though I'm sure they have a large range.
This is the 1st time I have seen the bird... I will however keep an eye out
for it now and if I do happen to see it again will keep a close eye on it. I
have done a wildlife care course so if it does become disabled I will
transport it to Currumbin.
Thanks again!
Caroline
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Hackworthy [mailto:ianhac...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, 10 March 2007 8:19 PM
To: c.k...@bigpond.net.au
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] sick currawong - white feet
Hi Caroline,
This looks like the result of Cnemidocoptic mites which burrow under the
scales of the leg and cause the scales to proliferate and in some birds a
powdery appearance occurs. It often affects the beak as well causing similar
proliferation at the base of the beak and can cause the beak to become
deformed (often seen in Budgerigars and chickens). It can lead to lameness
and loss of skin.
If it gets disabled and you can catch it you could take it to Currumbin Bird
Sanctuary or your local vet and the treatment is fairly straightforward with
a drop of Ivermectin or similar product once a week for a few weeks.
I hope this is helpful
Ian Hackworthy BVSc
Blue Mountains
NSW
-----Original Message-----
From: brian fleming [mailto:flam...@labyrinth.net.au]
Sent: Saturday, 10 March 2007 8:24 PM
To: Caroline Kelly; Birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Sick cCrrawong
Looks like Scaly Leg-mite, contracted from neglected backyard poultry.
Treatment is to paint birds' legs with miticide. You'd have to catch it
first.
Anthea Fleming
NSW
-----Original Message-----
From: inger vandyke [mailto:ingerv...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, 10 March 2007 8:16 PM
To: c.k...@bigpond.net.au; birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] sick currawong - white feet
Hi All,
Just my humble opinion. If it's not mud, then I would assume this could be
a manifestation of poor diet in the bird. Do you live in a highly populated
area? Or near a rubbish tip?
I have seen domestic pigeons with growths gnarling their feet and always
assumed this is diet related.
Would be interested to know from others if this is the case?
Cheers,
Inger
-----Original Message-----
From: Graham Buchan [mailto:pere...@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Saturday, 10 March 2007 7:55 PM
To: Caroline Kelly
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] sick currawong - white feet
Caroline,
Looks like 'bumblefoot' - its common in domestic pigeons and Mynahs .It gets
passed on often at coomon feeding area eg if someone feeds the pigeons.
Cheers,
Graham
---
Ian Hackworthy
This looks like the result of Cnemidocoptic mites which burrow under the
scales of the leg and cause the scales to proliferate and in some birds a
powdery appearance occurs. It often affects the beak as well causing similar
proliferation at the base of the beak and can cause the beak to become
deformed (often seen in Budgerigars and chickens). It can lead to lameness
and loss of skin.
If it gets disabled and you can catch it you could take it to Currumbin Bird
Sanctuary or your local vet and the treatment is fairly straightforward with
a drop of Ivermectin or similar product once a week for a few weeks.
I hope this is helpful
Ian Hackworthy BVSc
Blue Mountains
NSW
>From: "Caroline Kelly" <c.k...@bigpond.net.au>
>To: <birdi...@vicnet.net.au>
>Subject: [Birding-Aus] sick currawong - white feet
>Hi all,
>
>This pied currawong was feeding in our backyard today - it appears to have
>some sort of viral/fungal disease on its legs and feet. Anyone know what
>this is/seen it before?
>
>
>
>http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/caro7/currawong.jpg
>
>http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/caro7/curra_close_up.jpg
>
>
>
>Thanks
>
>Caroline, Southport, Gold Coast, South East QLD
>
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Ian Hackworthy
Cnemidocoptic mites = Scaley leg mite but bumblefoot is a bit different.
Bumblefoot is infection/inflammation of the pads of the feet which can
involve tendons, ligaments or joints and is treated differently.
Thanks
Ian Hackworthy BVSc
Blue Mountains
NSW
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Kurtis Lindsay
which was found dead on a road in Sydney.
I wondered what the bizarre growths on the bird's feet were but didn't put
too much thought into it.
Now I know what it is.
It would be interesting to find out, which bird species this mite mostly
affects.
Kurtis Lindsay
Ian Hackworthy
The more I look the more I find!
There are a few species of the mite Cnemidocoptes which are usually fairly
species specific so they are not transmitted between most species.
Cnemidocoptes pilae infects the face, cere and legs of psittacines esp
Budgerigars.
Cnemidocoptes jamaicensis infects passerines eg ‘Tassle foot’ in canaries.
Cnemidocoptes mutans infects poultry causing ‘Scaly leg’.
Cnemidocoptes intermedius has only been reported to infect Currawongs and
Forest Ravens.
The mites do not survive in the environment, they live their entire life
cycle on the host so transmission is by direct contact. The affected
Currawongs have, therefore been infected by contact with other Currawongs,
not from domestic species. If it progresses it is very debilitating and will
probably cripple and kill the host so if they can be caught it would be life
saving.
Good luck
Ian Hackworthy BVSc
Blue Mountains
NSW
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