Sunday a recently fledged Chipping Sparrow came to our suet feeder. Where one eye should have been, there was a large bulbous pink tumor. It had been about 5 weeks since FirstEnergy had sprayed herbicide (Vastlan--which they had said would not harm pets or wildlife) along the high-power corridor behind our back yard and south of us.


I went to get a camera when I saw the sparrow, but it flew off before I came back. I looked for it yesterday, but I only saw the adult. I'll keep trying to get a photo.


A few years ago, a recently fledged Cardinal came to our feeder that had a similar deformity. I have birded many places but have only seen deformities like this here.


Has anyone seen something similar? Was it near to where herbicides were sprayed? A 2015 Montana study linked such deformities to crop areas where herbicides were sprayed: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-high-cost-of-pesticides-human-and-animal-diseases-2375-446X-1000132.php?aid=56471


Thank you for your help.

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