The house finch population appears to be rebounding in my neighborhood. For some years now mycoplasmal conjunctivitis has been infecting finches in large numbers. While the disease itself should not be fatal, the impaired vision that it causes makes it difficult for the finches to find food and makes them more vulnerable to predators. With time and luck, they may heal on their own. In 2003 the webmaster had almost no finches at his birdbath and feeders. This year they are considerably more plentiful. I am taking no chances, and am washing everything that I can with bleach to minimize the risk of infection.