A couple of months ago when the Pine Siskins were first moving through I had a
couple of birds that were clearly sick. I shut my feeders down for a couple of
days, cleaned them and once I started feeding again they didn’t return. But I
clearly had sick birds and at the time wondered if it was a similar sickness
that the House Finches get. Thanks for the info. Brainard.
Kyle Bixler
Wilmore, Ky
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 13, 2021, at 8:54 AM, PRESTON FORSYTHE <pns_for@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Is this a state of Washington problem? Or, has this been reported from 3
bird feeder people in KY?
I understand Pine Siskins feed mostly on thistle seed from special thistle
seed socks? I have not had much success with these thistle seed socks so have
not used for years, plus, thistle seed cost several times more than cracked
corn.
We do occasionally clean our feeders and especially water/ bird baths, but
could do more often.
Preston Forsythe, Browder, KY
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android
On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 6:57 AM, brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It appears that Salmonella is moving through the flocks of Pine Siskins that
are wintering in our area. Three folks who still have flocks at their feeders
are reporting lethargic, weak, or dying birds. This is a well-known problem
that cannot be completely addressed by those of us who feed birds, but we can
apparently help out the situation by following measures outlined in the
below-linked articles:
https://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2013/02/if-youre-seeing-sick-or-dying-pine-siskins.html
http://www.chronline.com/news/wdfw-bird-feeders-blamed-for-deadly-salmonella-outbreak-among-wild-birds/article_a5af5512-546b-11eb-a33d-c7694ab26481.html
For anyone will try to decide whether or not to take the safe route and
consider ceasing with bird feeding or a "time out" for the safety of the
siskins ... it may be hard to suddenly quit feeding birds right now, but a
two-week break shouldn't do anything to threaten anyone's back yard birds.
Conditions so far this winter have not been extreme and upcoming forecast is
not for any severe cold or snow.
Anyone who is aware of additional measures feel free to post here.
bpb, Louisville
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