Hi Diane. Very good information. Thank you so much. My wife Ingrid and I have also had Siskins sit on our hands and heads. We really love them. Let us know if we can help you with treatment. As it turns out we do keep a tray below the thistle bag, and no not clean up the ground below. There are always Siskins there as well. We will clean up our act. Thanks again

Andy Papadatos
Snohomish
----- Original Message -----
From: Diane Weinstein<mailto:diane_weinstein at msn.com>
To: Andy Papadatos<mailto:apmf at msn.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Sick Siskins


Hi Andy,

I have also seen sick Pine Siskins. I inquired at my local Wild Birds Unlimited, and was told that the Pine Siskins are prone to getting salmonella and it is spread through their poop. They recommended not using a tray under the thistle feeder and trying to keep the ground under the feeder clean. I was told that many of the birds have it, and it doesn't effect them until they get stressed from the cold or lack of food, etc.

I don't know if it is possible or not but I am thinking of trying to save the sick ones. I am going to try to do some research to see if I can figure more about what makes them sick, how to prevent it, and treat it.

The Pine Siskins are such sweet birds and many times seem almost tame. Over the years I have occasionally petted them and have even had them sit on my finger.

Please let me know if you find out more.

Diane Weinstein
Issaquah WA

----- Original Message -----
From: Andy Papadatos<mailto:apmf at msn.com>
To: tweets<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 7:37 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Sick Siskins


Hello. I would like to know if anyone has noticed any sick Pine Siskins. In the past couple of weeks I have been finding them slow moving, then nearly lathargic, and finally dead around my yard where I keep very busy bird feeders. Today I found three dead under a gable of my house. There are 8-9 other species regularly at my feeders, but only the siskins seem to be affected. There are plenty of healthy Siskins too , at times over 20 at one feeder. I removed the thistle bag and no-mess sunflower feeder today, since these are the feeders to go to most. I'm reluctant to remove the regular sunflower seed feeder as I like to practice my ritual of welcoming the B.H. Grosbeaks home from a long migration. Today I hear the first P.S. Flycatcher at home in Snohomish, so the Grosbeaks should arrive any day. Anyway, please let me know if anyone has noticed any sick Siskins.

Thanks.

Andy Papadatos


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