Subject: [Tweeters] Pine Siskens
Date: Apr 13 12:48:37 2008
From: Jim Ullrich - jim at wbugigharbor.com


Over the past 16 years we have seen various cycles of illness developing
in our Pine Sisken flocks. The number of reported ill birds this Spring
seems to be far
less then in years past. The larger the flock, the better chance they may
have of spreading
Salmonella amongst the group, in their evening roosting area primarily.
We have found that cleaning the outside of your feeders is very important,
especially,
if there is an outbreak of conjunctivitis or salmonella. We recommend wiping
down the outside
with a 10% bleach solution to kill any bacteria that may be on your feeder.
Swab out the seed tray, if
you use one, 2-3 times a week to remove any droppings. Also water in any
droppings on the ground
under your feeders to stop the spread of any diseases to your ground feeding
birds.
We have also found that an ill Pine Sisken gets all puffed up and
lethargic and will just sit on a perch
or in your seed tray. You can actually go out pick them up and nurse them
back to health.
We have had a 71% success rate of getting them through the first night of
illness. We have a small
box ready for them in the house, a little water tray and small pile of
sunflower chips in another tray.
When I have brought them inside I put my gloved finger in H2O and put it on
the beak of the ill
bird and it invariably will drink any number of drops of fresh water. I then
put it in the box for the day/
evening. Check it again a few hours later and go through the fresh water
routine.
Next morning we have been lucky enough to see a good number of survivors fly
back into their native
environment.
It is like having a bad human cold, we need H2O, food and rest to get over
the hump
of any illness. The same applies with our friends the Pine Sisken, we
believe.
We also recommend that you keep your bird baths full and clean, and your
feeders full
and clean. If you take the food and water source away, you may exacerbate
the problem
by removing a guaranteed clean feeding area.
Sincerely, Jim Ullrich

--
3120 1/2 Harborview Dr
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
253-851-2575 or 800-851-2575
http://www.wbu.com/gigharbor