I've personally found a dead pine siskin in my yard
near our feeder, with no signs of attack.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - After reports of sick or dead
birds at backyard feeders in Washington, the state
Department of Fish and Wildlife has recommended that
people temporarily discontinue bird feeding or take
extra steps to keep their feeders clean.

Veterinarian Kristin Mansfield advised for people to
stop backyard bird feeding for at least a few weeks,
if not for the remainder of the summer, to encourage
birds to disperse and forage naturally.

She says laboratory analysis of bird carcasses has
confirmed salmonellosis, a common and usually fatal
bird disease caused by the salmonella bacteria.

Mansfield says salmonellosis is probably the most
common avian disease at feeders in the state, with the
disease afflicting species such as finches, grosbeaks
and pine siskins that flock together in large numbers
at feeders.

She says the birds transmit the disease through
droppings.

About four dozen reports of dead birds have been
received during the past several weeks involving pine
siskins, goldfinches and purple finches in both
eastern and western Washington.

Carcasses of purple finches and pine siskins were sent
to a Washington State University laboratory for
testing that confirmed the disease.

Mansfield says people who handle birds, bird feeders
or bird baths should wear gloves and wash their hands
thoroughly afterwards.

Marian Murdoch
Belfair, WA
marianmurdoch at yahoo.com
http://countrybirding.com


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