Male lost an eye

[C.C.Martins]

Wondering if anyone's seen this: have an ASY male who is missing an eye, saw him yesterday but thought he had an eye closed as they do sometimes. He was up on top preening again saw the white cap again over his right eye. Put the binoculars on him sure enough its a big scab over his eye. His other eye if fine, looks like he doesn't move much. Dont think he's feeding chicks, thankfully they are ready to fledge now.
To see how he's doing I got the superworms ready, and flipped right to him. He got two before the others got too much involved. So theres hope.
Anyone seen this?

[brent]

Last year I had several chicks whose heads were pecked on by SYs and one had an eye that was damaged (scarred shut). I paid close attention to him and wondered if he’d make it. Well he grew as big, if not bigger, as the other chicks and fledged right along with the rest. The same this year except the little one with the damaged shut eye stayed in the nest (along with a little runt sibling) well past the time the others fledged. They perched together, side by side, and then the day came and both fledged almost at the same time. Both flew beautifully and were chased with excitement by the adult birds around. What a sight. I think they adapt. It must be difficult but it’s all they know. Brent

[Phil01]

That’s pretty crazy! Never seen that before but like Brent said I feel that they can learn to adapt, though much more difficult. The fact that he’s eating is a good sign for sure!

Last year I had a bird that was here flying around at fledging time for a few weeks. I never could get a real close look at it when he landed but I believe was a SY. My wife and I called him “stubby”. Little dude had zero tail feathers, you could only see it when he flew. Had a stub like when someone has a limb amputated.. Maybe something tried to get him going into a cavity somewhere… But that guy flew just as well as every other Martin. You could see him maneuvering that stub around in flight, it was crazy to watch! Hopefully his tail feathers grew back this past year and he’s one of my pair this year. So I feel they can overcome and adapt in some situations. Hope your guy makes it.
Phil

[C.C.Martins]

Thanks guys, I feel better now. This morning I'm spying on them as usual. Theres a chick with one eye now too. Looks swollen shut, not as raw as the adult but red and shut. They are getting fed.
That adult just sits on top, scratches at it but think (read hope) he's gonna be ok. Man was wondering if its pesticides but now leaning to wear and tear. Thats right Brent, its all they know and compensate. Most in that rack have fledged, some hangers on, two brand new nests.
Appriciate it!

[Martintown33]

Tom, I hope he will adjust and be ok… it’s hard to see them, with something wrong like that…
Good luck,
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Yeah geeze. Sure is. I know, wild birds, things happen...not my birds....but they ARE our wild birds. If thats the only thing this season im happy. I can't help agains blindness.
Knock on wood: no snakes, no mites, no hawks, no owls, no tornados, no hurricanes, no racoons. One starling breach but they were beeman- ed. Sparrows kept at bay. Few dud eggs and some dead chicks, normal season stuff.
Record numbers at the preserve, 46 cavities, 39 have pairs. 18 pair last year out there. Think i have re nesting here, will see tomorrow.

[Martintown33]

That is a great season Tom… very good one here too.. no issues, except for 1 egg and 1 chick missing, due to SY… as you say, I’ll gladly take that every year, if that’s all that happens..
Rob