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June 05, 2005
Northern Californians Asked to Stop Feeding Birds
For the second time in less than a year, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) asked that people take down their bird feeders to slow the spread of avian disease. In this most recent request, DFG asked residents of Northern California to remove feeders for at least one month, starting on February 10, to help slow an outbreak of salmonellosis, a bacterial disease that is affecting Pine Siskins. Hundreds of dead siskins have been reported in Grass Valley, Eureka, and Santa Cruz County – spanning a distance of some 350 miles.
In July 2004, DFG asked that all bird feeders be removed to slow the spread of the deadly parasite trichomoniasis in Mourning Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon populations (http://www.dfg.ca.gov).
Human contraction of salmonellosis from wild birds is rare, and even less likely when correct precautions are taken (see below). However, pets can contract the disease, especially if they are exposed to bird droppings below the feeders. Pine Siskins contract salmonellosis from each other, most often by eating fecal-contaminated food, but also by direct contact with the insides of contaminated tube feeders.
Pine Siskin at feeder from Surfbirds Galleries by Neil Gilbert
DFG recommended that after resuming feeding, residents use only small amounts of food in their feeders and replace uneaten food daily, each time cleaning the feeder with a 10% bleach solution. DFG also recommends removing spilt food from around the feeders daily, replacing wooden bird feeders with plastic or metal versions, (wood cannot be effectively sterilized), spreading small amounts of seed over a large area in the sun, and varying the location of feeding to avoid consistent concentration of birds at one site. To minimize the risk to humans, DFG suggests gloves should be used when handling feeders and sick or dead birds. Hands should also be washed with anti-bacterial soap.
Posted by Surfbirds at June 5, 2005 10:23 PM
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