Bill's 'tatty Robin' - New slant. (1 Viewer)

[BazR]

Hi Bill and All.
I've been to an RSPB meeting tonight, and the speaker was a man who knows his Robins.

I described the 'tatty Robins' of last year, and he said it would be alopecia. He also added, it affects other birds as well, hence the Blackie that was similarly affected.Though it can be fatal, some birds do recover. I did mention feather mites, and he said ' Almost certainly not.'

Make of that what you will.

Baz.

 

[Peewit]

Hi Bill and All.
I've been to an RSPB meeting tonight, and the speaker was a man who knows his Robins.

I described the 'tatty Robins' of last year, and he said it would be alopecia. He also added, it affects other birds as well, hence the Blackie that was similarly affected.Though it can be fatal, some birds do recover. I did mention feather mites, and he said ' Almost certainly not.'

Make of that what you will.

Baz.

hi Baz

That was a bit brash of the speaker to give such a direct answer about feather mites. He could have explained why his answer was no in the first place.

Feather mites are still very apparant on all wild birds flight feathers. There is no getting away from them. :eek!:
The mites thrive in the nesting birds feathers. So just imagine how the mites would multiply happily in a nice warm nest.

I also thought birds had a dust bath/bathe in water (like Starlings do) to get rid of the 'mites' on their feathers. The mites must be very irrating to get rid off all together. I have seen blackbirds having a dust bath, but never a Robin.

Never thought it was life threatening though, just makes the bird look scruffy.

Found this link and I already feel itchy just reading it :t:

http://www.federmilben.de/en/living.html

 

[pie]

Oo! that's interesting Baz, I would guess there would be few causes of "tattyness" well I guess the jury is out on this one!

 

[Pam_m]

An interesting update, thanks Baz! Food for thought too!

 

[BazR]

That was a bit brash of the speaker to give such a direct answer about feather mites. He could have explained why his answer was no in the first place.
Hi Kathy.
If you had heard the man throughout his talk, you would have come to the conclusion that brashness was not in his make-up. He had travelled up from Staffordshire, and mine was the last question of many to be asked, at 9.35. I feel that he was entitled to brevity, and that was simply his opinion based on many years of observations.

As has been said, there could be more than one reason for the affliction, his idea is just one more possibility thrown into the melting-pot.

Baz.

 

[Peewit]

That was a bit brash of the speaker to give such a direct answer about feather mites. He could have explained why his answer was no in the first place.
Hi Kathy.
If you had heard the man throughout his talk, you would have come to the conclusion that brashness was not in his make-up. He had travelled up from Staffordshire, and mine was the last question of many to be asked, at 9.35. I feel that he was entitled to brevity, and that was simply his opinion based on many years of observations.

As has been said, there could be more than one reason for the affliction, his idea is just one more possibility thrown into the melting-pot.

Baz.

Hi Baz

Maybe your speaker is a person who likes to keep many open doors for an answer about anything about Robins. Any person who has spent a lot of his time studying them is someone who does know their subject well. I would be asking a lot of questions myself!

It is good not to be in agreement all of time with one fact about anything, but to weigh up the pros and the cons in an answer. Yes, the melting pot of ideas. :t: That is my own humble opinion.

As you say it may have been lots of theories attached to the bald patches, and it just makes conversation a little more open ended for others to relate too.

Of course, as you say yourself, it depends when and where the conversation is opened for debate too, and how late it is in the day too. :t:

What are your own views about it?

 

[BazR]

Hi Kathy.
I can't disagree with anything you've said: not that I am wishing to.
As for my views: if you mean on what's causing it, I haven't got a clue. I can only listen to 'experts' and be guided, hopely along the correct path; but we all know 'experts' are sometimes wrong. As I suggested, his theory is just one more to add to the discussion.

I do concede that his reply 'Almost certainly not' does sound a bit like the final solution, but I'm equally sure, having listened to him, that his use of the word 'almost' shows a degree of doubt.

Baz.

 

[bill moss]

Hi Baz,

A little late in responding, I've been 'off-Board' for a couple of days.

Interesting. I have no expertise in this area, I was simply told by someone who I regard as better informed than me that it was 'Probably feather-mite'.

Having experienced (mild) feather-mite when we kept Homing Pigeons and having had to dust them I went with it.

I'm pretty sure that Tatty didn't survive. He (?) simply disappeared and a new Robin came in and took over the territory (now known as RH).

If Tatty had survived then presumably he would have regrown feathers and I would have seen him in the transition.

Thanks for the info.

Bill