Hi Tweeters,
Last night at about 9:30, I went out to get the hot tub ready for some
soaking. I was surprised to find a Pine Siskin sitting on the deck right next
to the hot tub. I picked it up and moved it to the front porch where I have a
small bird shelter. This morning I found a dead Pine Siskin close to where I
left the one last evening.
Is anyone finding sick or dead Pine Siskins around their feeders or yard?
I cleaned the feeder last week and checked it today. It is still clean but
under the circumstances, it is time to wash it again and soak in bleach water
before hanging it out again. Bird bath needs some attention too. I hope we
don't have an epidemic like last year with the salmonella.
Just in case, Tweets, please remember to keep the bird feeding area clean
and the feeders washed up. The bird baths are also an area where there is a
need to keep clean and fresh. The birds get salmonella through their
droppings and there is usually a concentration of fecal matter around feeding
areas and then it gets picked up by birds when they come in to eat.

Take care and happy birding,
Beth Thompson
calliopehb at aol.com
Arlington, WA