Paul,
Yes there have been some local prior messages on this subject.
Though I don’t recall details. But this easily found website from UK, describes
it.
Philip
https://bto.org/sites/default/files/shared_documents/avian-pox/associated_files/avian-pox-garden-wildlife-health-factsheet.pdf
From: Birding-Aus
[ On Behalf Of Paul Doyle
Sent: Monday, 12 April, 2021 1:53 PM
To:
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Magpie affliction
Hi all,
Our local magpies had chicks this year and one of the
juveniles came in to try t swipe some dog food from the bowl at our place (Como
on the Woronora River, Southern Sydney)
I could see it had something wrong with its eyes so went to
get binoculars and say a pretty horrible sight.
It’s right eye had about 5 warty-looking growths
around the margins, on the eye lids I think.
The left eye was completely covered with these growths, so
that I could not even see it’s eye.
I don’t think it would have been possible to see out
of that eye.
Didn’t seem to affect its binocular vision too much:
it had no apparent trouble perching on our gate and then on a tree branch as it
flew off once the dog came on the scene.
Anyone seen this sort of thing before? Any idea what it may
be?
Paul.
