Yahoo! News: Deadly Songbird Parasite Evolving Rapidly
The fast evolution means the bacteria can keep up with their hosts' immune systems. However, in the process of evolving, the bacteria have lost genes that may protect them from viruses. That's a weakness scientists could take advantage of to get rid of the bacteria, which have led to the death of thousands of house finches in the wild since the bacteria jumped species and started an epidemic in the 1990s.
Photo Credit: Geoffrey E. Hill
The bacteria responsible for the red, swollen, crusty eyes of a sick house finch, which can leave it unable to survive, evolve at an exceptionally fast rate — which is both bad and good news for the future of the songbird, researchers say.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 2/12/2012 7:00 AM 
Categories: Birds
Tags: songbird parasites birds house finch bacteria
Categories: Birds
Tags: songbird parasites birds house finch bacteria
That's really upsetting since about 15 house finches have been born on, yes on, my house since I've owned it. They nest on the braces of my old metal window awnings. I've been able to literally look out the window into the nests. And, I feel them. Unhappily, the article didn't give us anything we can do to help - yet.
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