The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking us to stop using feeders in WA. The birds are dying from salmonella they get at bird feeders, especially those with a platform for them to stand on where their droppings may collect (tube feeders are cleaner to use). Then, dead infected birds can spread it to cats/dogs or people who handle dead birds improperly. The WDFW suggests all sorts of precautions and apparently this happens every 3 to 4 years.
I'm taking my feeders down. At least there are lots of wild things they can eat right now. Gives me extra incentive to include native forage plants in my garden for my wild critters.
Our newspaper ran an article on this and recommended bleach. We have had the same problem surface here on the island, not really that far from you as the bird flies (bad pun). Up-island some woman had over 100 dead pine siskins in her yard from salmonella. I thoroughly enjoy my birds, so resorted to purchasing veterinary disinfectant "Virkon" and cleaned all my feeders and birdbaths. With having laying hens, I wanted to be extra vigilant in making sure everything was super clean and the Virkon seems to be "comparatively" safe. Di
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts
Posted - Jun 25 2007 : 10:33:59 AM
This is pretty common. Most bird books tell you to clean your feeders weekly with hot soapy water or bleach. I also scrub my bird baths with soap and water everytime I fill them. None of my feeders have platforms, and I have even been thinking about shopvaccing the ground around my feeders. Regular changing of your seed is another way to avoid contamination of your seed and birds.
Well, that just makes sense, doesn't it? We'd get sick too if we didn't clean off where we eat. That's reassuring. Gloves and cleanser and I can still enjoy the birds. I might get another feeder so one can dry off while the other is being used.
Birdfeeders killing birds
Posted - Jun 25 2007 : 09:22:28 AM
