I've never seen a pine siskin use a suet feeder, they seem to only go to the seed feeders.  But you can get cross contamination.  If a sick PISI visits the seed feeder, and a chickadee (for example) then visits the seed feeder AND subsequently the suet feeder, the salmonella can spread to the suet feeder.  However, the bacteriua from what I read, is transmitted primarily through feces and bird-to-bird contact.  Bottom line is, taking down the seed feeders could reduce the attraction of pine siskins -- which seem to be the the most apparent vectors of the bacteria.
Peggy Mundy



On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 03:20:45 p.m. PST, THOMAS BENEDICT <benedict.t at comcast.net> wrote:

What do suet feeders have that keeps them from spreading disease?

Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA


> On 12/30/2020 3:00 PM Dayna yalowicki <dlwicki at comcast.net> wrote:

>

> 

> I took down my seed feeders for good about 5 years ago. Since it only takes one bird to spread disease, I didn't think I could disinfect them often enough to stop illness. I still have a suet feeder, which brings 4 species of Woodpeckers, a bunch of Bushtits and a few others. Feels good enough to me.

>

> Buy Free Range

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