Subject: Salmonella Warning at your Feeders
Date: Jan 17 13:22:55 1996
From: Raymond Korpi - rkorpi at clark.edu


Dennis Paulson posted a mote last week with regard to Salmonella at your
feeders and its effect on siskins. I thought I'd renew the warning as I
had a bird this morning which was acting much like an infected bird--it
failed the test I give siskins for this; I was able to catch the bird.
The bird's eyes looked clear and glossy, but it seemed a bit
thin.

The few other birds with it took off when I went out. So instead
of going to Ridgefield, I raked under the feeders and have taken down my
tray feeders for drying and cleaning.

Watch for siskins acting weird
(very lethargic and unusually tame [I can usually approach some birds
within 6-8 feet, but usually I can't get closer, I rarely am able to
catch them either--imagine if I had cat-like quickness--I also do not
recommend catching the birds]). This bird was distinctly unpeppy
compared to the other siskins. If you've watched enough birds at your
feeder, you'll be able to tell.

To kill the bacteria, wash your feeders and baths
with a bleach solution, rinse thoroughly and let them dry. You also
need to rake any litter out from under the feeders where possible.
ANything you can get up will help. Also, this is not
onyl a local problem--my father-in-law back in Nebraska had a similar
bird last weekend. There are instances where thousands of siskins have
died from this bacteria in this area. Take a few moments and help them
avoid this--if
we attract them into our yard, we should take care of them more than just
feeding them.

BTW, there are advantages to a little yard work--had my ruby-crowned
kinglet in the yard today--gorgeous and bright little bird.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Korpi "Upstream,
Hm: Portland, OR a cardinal perches
Wk: Clark College on the tip of a tamarack sawyer
Vancouver, WA like an ornament on the hood
rkorpi at clark.edu of the Kaiser's most influential car."
--William Kloefkorn, from
_Platte_Valley_Homestead_, #4