Subject: FW: [TEXBIRDS] Response of Cornell Lab of Ornithology about aflatoxin -- long
Date: Mar 19 21:38:19 2004
From: Peter Sullins - thesullinsfamily at earthlink.net


Thought Tweeters would find this interesting, from our fellow birders in
Texas and also from CLO.


Peter Sullins
The Sullins Family
In The Village of Silver Firs
Everett, WA
TheSullinsFamily at earthlink.net


-----Original Message-----
From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:TEXBIRDS at LISTSERV.UH.EDU] On
Behalf Of Lisa Meacham
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 9:49 AM
To: TEXBIRDS at LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Subject: [TEXBIRDS] Response of Cornell Lab of Ornithology about aflatoxin
-- long

---> Texbird help file http://www.texbirds.org <---

I contacted the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology about the
aflatoxin--birdseed question that has been debated on Texbirds this week.
Among many other projects, the Lab of Ornithology conducts Project
Feederwatch, a large, citizen science project which gathers data on birds at
feeders in North America to determine population trends of birds that visit
feeders. Here is their reply, which might be of interest to those of us who
maintain bird feeders.

Lisa Meacham
Austin

Thank you for your concern about our feathered friends and the potentially
negative impacts of providing aflatoxin tainted foods at bird feeders.
Following is our take on the issue at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Feel
free to post this to TexBirds.
---------------------------------------------

Recent posts to birding listservs across North America have raised concerns
about the potential harmful effects of feeding birds seeds and grains that
may be contaminated with aflatoxin. In response to numerous requests,
following are some comments on the issue from the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT AFLATOXIN?

- Aflatoxins are produced by fungi that are common and widespread in nature,
Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus.
-The fungi grow most rapidly in humid environments and can grow on foods
stored in damp conditions.
-Corn and peanuts are more likely affected than other foods commonly
provided at feeders.
-Research conducted by Dr. Scott Henke of Texas A&M University Kingsville
found that 17% of the birdseed samples tested in Texas contained relatively
large amounts of the toxin. His research further suggests that feeding wild
birds foods contaminated with aflatoxin can be harmful.

SHOULD WE STOP FEEDING BIRDS BECAUSE OF THE RISKS POSED BY AFLATOXIN?

-While research studying the effects of aflatoxin on free-living birds is
scant, evidence suggests that it is not necessary to abandon bird feeding
altogether. Data from Breeding Bird Surveys, Christmas Bird Counts, and
Project FeederWatch show that populations of most species that use feeders
are stable or increasing. In fact, a number of common feeder species have
expanded their geographic range in recent years. An estimated 40-60 million
Americans feed birds and have been doing so for decades. If
aflatoxin-contaminated seeds were negatively affecting bird populations,
we'd see downward trends in counts of our most common feeder visitors.
-Providing supplemental food at feeders likely has little effect on bird
populations (positive or negative), but the benefits to humans are
immeasurable. Feeding birds has enormous educational value, providing
humans with a window on the natural world that is important for encouraging
people to protect the environment.

HOW CAN YOU PROTECT BIRDS FROM AFLATOXIN AND OTHER DANGERS?

The aflatoxin issue raises the importance of providing a safe environment
for birds. You may follow several strategies to improve the safety and
health of birds at your feeders:
-Clean your feeders regularly with a 10% bleach, 90% water solution.
Allow feeders to dry completely before filling with fresh seed.
-Only provide a limited supply of food at a time (as much as can be consumed
in a few days).
-Store seed in a dry place to discourage growth of mold and fungus.
-Discard any seed that has become wet.
-Routinely rake the ground beneath feeders to prevent the build-up of seed
hulls and fecal material that could promote growth of bacteria and mold.
- Keep your cats indoors! House cats kill millions of birds each year.
- Avoid window collisions (another source of mortality for millions of birds
in the U.S. each year). While data are lacking about which approach is
best, streamers and silhouettes likely do not significantly reduce window
collisions. We suggest keeping feeders greater than 30 feet from windows
(so birds are less likely to see the window as a route through your home).
Alternatively, place feeders less than 3 feet from windows so that birds
leaving the feeders cannot gain enough momentum to do harm if they hit the
window. Consider placing deer netting over particularly problematic
windows.
-Provide cover near your feeders so that birds can escape from predators.

If you are concerned about the risks aflatoxin may pose to birds, consider
avoiding seed mixes containing corn and peanuts, as the Aspergillus fungi
are most likely to grow on these food items.


David Bonter, Ph.D.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org