Remember, all you feeder tweeters. Pine Siskins are very susceptible to
salmonellosis. Major epidemics have happened several times in this area,
probably associated with the contagion offered by the feeder situation
(siskins feeding on "natural" food such as alder seeds aren't concentrated
and exposed to each others' feces). With the numbers visiting feeders, it
behooves us to take special care to clean our feeders regularly. The basic
thing to avoid is the accumulation of fecal matter in or on the feeder and,
more difficult, on the ground below it if the birds are feeding there also.

If you begin to see sick or moribund birds, it might even be wise to cease
and desist your feeding operation, at least for siskins.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416