After a reader posted a question in my blog about lethargic pine siskins
(which I then posted to y'all, thank you for the quick and insightful
responses), I decided that my next column for The Chronicle's Outdoors
section should include reminders to readers to clean and disinfect their
bird feeders regularly. I have mentioned the importance of keeping
feeders clean many times, and have even sent in a few photos that
included a House Finch with a crusty eye and a Purple Finch carrying the
warts on his feet -- but they were never published. Until now.

My column reminder became a feature article when I found an ailing
female Evening Grosbeak on my front porch. My feeders are down, my heart
is broken and I have a flock of hungry siskins pounding on my door
(figuratively, of course).

I can easily clean and disinfect my feeders, but the ground under the
feeders? Not so easy. Has anyone tried any of the products that claim to
"digest" seed hulls and droppings? I'm specifically looking at the Care
Free Enzymes Seed & Hull Digester, though surely there are others on the
market.

As a side note, thank you, Jeff Gibson, for the permission to quote you
in my column this week. You'll find yourself here:
http://lewiscountyoutdoors.com/?p=1367 (where my articles and columns
are posted on a non-paywall site).

Y'all are terrific. Thank you.

km

--
*Kimberly Mason*
Cinebar, Wash.
360-269-5017
Freelance for The Chronicle <http://www.chronline.com>
and Lewis County Outdoors <http://lewiscountyoutdoors.com>.
Also The (Almost) Daily Bird <http://blogs.chronline.com/dailybird/>.