A concerned client recently brought in a dead blue tit with multiple growths, one of many she had found this month. Avian pox virus is highly infectious disease which causes these tumours, especially in tits, dunnocks and pigeons. If you see affected birds in your garden the RSPB recommends that perches and feeders are regularly disinfected and bird baths are cleaned out daily. If large numbers of birds congregate in your garden it may be better to stop feeding them to reduce the risk of healthy birds coming into contact with infected birds. For more information on this and other wild bird diseases please go to www.rspb.org.uk