We were at Costco on Thursday having our $1.50 hot dog and soda. There are huge signs asking people to please NOT feed the birds. However, I could see that some people disregard those messages... or perhaps not. Perhaps the hot dogs were just dropped on the ground by some young child not used to eating such a huge meal.
I was surprised that the birds were eating the meat.
Whatever the case, I've been noticing that a lot of the doves have misshapen feet. They are missing claws and are walking clumsily on tottering stubs.
Interestingly, the sparrows feet are just fine. I wonder why. I did notice that doves walk while sparrows hop. Could that be the reason?
It's just really strange.
Ahh, poor creatures! It sounds as though they've got an infection.
ReplyDeleteI shudder to think what MY feet would look like if I had to eat hot dogs off the ground! :-)
ReplyDeleteCould it be that the doves are older and therefore more likely to have had foot problems? I know it happens that way to humans.
It hurts me to see things in the wild suffer deformaties. I would have no idea why but I know all the chemicals on grass and the salt on the snowy streets are murder on my dog's paws so I think it would be the same for birds. Thank you for this interesting post.
ReplyDeleteLove and peace,
Manzanita
You are such a good and caring observer, Kay.
ReplyDeleteThis question sounds like a good idea for research, maybe there is even grant money. :)
Don't suppose it is those hot dogs full of chemicals doing it:))
ReplyDeleteManzanita may have the answer--very sad what ever it is.
interesting question-I don't have a clue. Like your new header with the sunset-gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteSure makes a person wonder. Wonder what that junk food is doing to us.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question. Also a fan of all your headers...as they appear. My way of virtual traveling with you, Kay!!
ReplyDeleteWell, we can be sure it isn't salt on snowy streets there in Hawaii, but perhaps it is other chemicals - gas, oil, windshield washer solution, etc. - on the streets where they walk. And certainly hot dogs can't be good for them, the poor dears.
ReplyDeleteI think Hawaiian doves are so wonderful, it makes me sad to think of them being deformed, having to walk on stubs of feet.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I would also be interested in knowing about the doves' feet. We had large numbers of them at our feeders in Texas and I never noticed a problem with their feet.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have noticed our birds have problem feet here too. Seagulls aren't looking too good either. Lots of plastic rings cutting off parts.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are lovely. Yes, I think they dip the stems in a preservative now....makes them last vastly longer than they used to.
Glad your house is ok tho. How ever did I get three entries behind. I try so hard to keep up. LOL
That IS strange. Let us know if you find out anything about them.
ReplyDeleteOh Kay! I love your header!
ReplyDeleteMy great joy is eating outdoors in good weather. Many spoil it by feeding them and the seagulls gather. Dumb folks, methinks, wanting poop on their heads!
ReplyDeleteI do like your header photo. You have the best ones! I have had a group of crows hanging about for some time, even through the winter. One of them has only a partial leg but he hops about just like the rest of the gang. But I have often wondered what happened to it. It would be interesting to find out what has bappened to the doves.
ReplyDeletepeople shouldn't be feeding the birds, although doves aren't as nasty as pigeons who fly up to your table and dig into your plate lunch when you're not watching. They tried to get rid of pigeons in Waikiki by poisoning the food, but the sight of pigeons dropping dead in front of outdoor dinners....well the dinners objected to the method.
ReplyDeletepoor birds, such a shame.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why just certain birds.
I have been away for a few days and I just came by and noticed your new header.
BTW, was watching a volcano looking pretty mad. Any problems with that on your part of Hawaii?
Kay that is a very worrying observation.... We're all part of the same ecosystem.
ReplyDeleteAvian Malaria -- brought in by the mosquitoes. The Sparrows that get it probably don't survive it. The doves that get it suffer various foot deformities. It effects different species in different ways. The hot dogs surely aren't good for birds (they aren't good for us!), but they don't deform their feet.
ReplyDeleteI think of all the birds that the morning dove has it the hardest. They can't fly off ground very fast and our neighbor cat has taken advantage of this several times, and even the hawks take advantage of this also.
ReplyDeleteYou've got me on that one. So, that is interesting that quilly thinks it is from malaria. I agree that eating the hot dogs can't be good. (for the doves)
ReplyDeleteEverybody: I still don't know. I looked up Avian Malaria, but it didn't tell me if it caused dove toes to be missing. There's also something called Bumblefoot but that's not supposed to occur in feral animals. It's another guess of mine that it might...MIGHT be caused by the wire barriers (spines that stick up like a wire brush) that Costco puts up to stop the birds from perching over the eating area. Perhaps the sparrows are tinier and are able to avoid the spines. I don't know. It's a theory... Don't quote me on it.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was also those spikes but I figured the doves were too smart to go near them.
ReplyDeleteIs there really an avian malaria?
Gosh, birds don't have it so easy.