The past two weeks I've noticed a Song Sparrow with no feathers on its
neck and a Black-headed Grosbeak with almost no feathers on its head.
Then today there was a junco sitting on my deck with its feathers in
disarray, vigorously preening or scratching all over with its beak.

I'm guessing that these birds have feather mites. Can mites be spread
among birds at suet feeders or in bird baths? Can they be spread by
merely sitting on a surface where another infected bird has sat? And
while I'm on the subject, will soaking Violet-green Swallow nesting
boxes in a 1/10th bleach water solution get rid of mites?

I couldn't find this information on the net. If you can answer these
questions or refer me to a source, I'd really appreciate it.

Linda Bainbridge
Whidbey Island