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Re: Cardinal with Black head

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Joanne Howl

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Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:25:52 -0400

I went to the link mentioned and they do talk about mites extensively.? However, I don't see that they actually isolated any mites from any bald-headed birds.? If they have, please correct me - it's been a long day and I scanned the site, so I may have missed it.



There can be a lot of reasons for bald headed birds.? Mites, lice, nutritional problems, feather picking by other birds to name a few.? The cornell website dasys it believes most bald headd birds are due to an atypical molt which allows all teh feathers to drop at once.? That sounds plausible, especially since most of these birds are reported bald, not bald and scratching their heads a lot.? 



I think it's a good theory and probably better than mites.? After all, the skin on the bird's head looks normal and they usually act normal as well.? That doesn't mean SOME baldies have problems; just I think most of them don't.? 



Joanne Howl, DVM
West River, MD



-----Original Message-----
From: George M. Jett <>
To: 
Sent: Thu, Aug 27, 2009 3:26 pm
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Cardinal with Black head


Folks?
?
If you want to see another example of another species that suffers from head mites, I placed a Blue Jay I photographed the other day through my dinning room window. Not a particular good image but head mite infections happens to many species. Fortunately this time of year the animals can grow new feathers in for the winter and should be OK. You can see the new feathers growing in on this individual. It does cause stress, but there is nothing I am aware of that home owners can do like cleaning feeders. Let nature take its course.?
?
Go to: www.georgejett.net. and look in Recent Images.?
?
George?
?
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Boucher" <>?
To: <>?
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 1:40 PM?
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Cardinal with Black head?
?
The brilliant Bill Hilton covered this topic quite nicely just a few weeks back:?
?
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek030701.html?
?
While you are on his wonderful website, think about contributing a few bucks. He makes it really easy - like five different ways to contribute - and he so richly deserves support for the environmental education and scientific research he has been conducting basically on his own dime for so many years!?
?
Ellen Paul?
Chevy Chase MD