[EBB Sightings] Fw: [MBB] Siskins and DFG News Release

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Hi all,

I received this email from my North Bay Bird list and thought it might be
relevant to all the EBB'ers like myself who are enjoying the siskins this
year. Food for thought!

Beth Newman
----------
From: "Siobhan Ruck" 
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:32:17 -0800
To: , ,
Subject: [NBB] Fw: [MBB] Siskins and DFG News Release

Please excuse the cross-posting.  I thought this clarification was worth
passing on (originally posted on Monterey Bay Birds).

Siobhan Ruck, SF

----- Original Message -----
Dear MBBers,
    Have had many calls and e-mails and have seen a couple of MBB postings
regarding the DFG News Release directing those feeding birds to remove their
feeders and not put up again for 30 days. I had many questions about this PR
piece, especially because I had been told last time we had a siskin invasion
that
they were infected with a virus, not salmonellosis. I believe in going to
the
source for information and so had a long conversation this morning with DFG
Wildlife Veterinarian Pam Swift who graciously answered all my questions and
understood that I was trying to make sure I was passing on the right
information
to all those concerned with the welfare of birds.
    The first question I had was whether they had actually tested dead
birds
and discovered salmonellosis or if they just had assumed that was the most
likely cause. She said that they had conducted tests and that the dead
siskins
they had tested had indeed died of salmonellosis. When I asked why no other
birds were affected when it is a non-specific bacteria, she said they don't
know
why they are more susceptible. I asked if it were, as I've been told in the
past, because they had come a long way and were tired, weak and hungry and
she
said "That's one theory." I then asked  if half of all people feeding birds
stopped feeding wouldn't that then cause crowding at the remaining feeders
thus
making it more likely that disease would flourish. She said I had a point.
When
I asked if more birds might be more likely to starve now due to this DFG
directive than die of disease, she conceded that might be so also. She said
that
they issued this proclamation mainly to get people to stop calling the West
Nile hotline about their dead birds. I asked if those people who have not
seen
any sick or dead birds at their feeders should take their feeders down and
she
said she did not see why they should, but that they should watch for any
sick
birds and if they saw any then take the feeders down and wash and clean up
any
debris under the feeders. I asked if chlorine bleach was effective in
killing
the bacteria and she said yes. She said wooden feeders were more difficult
to
clean, which is true. I asked what effect keeping the feeders down for 30
days
would have since there is always the possibility of salmonellosis at a bird
feeder and wouldn't the problem crop up again as soon as the feeders were
put
back up. She said I was right, but that they wanted to nip this particular
cycle in the bud. (I guess by having the birds go away...I'm not clear how
this
helps.) She did say this was a much lighter year as far as sisken deaths
compared to other invasion years. I agreed and said that's why I was so
surprised by
this Press Release being issued when it didn't seem to be a big problem this
year and she said it wouldn't have been issued if it weren't for the need to
calm West Nile fears. Anyway, bottom line, as always, is how important it is
that those of us feeding birds must maintain a clean feeding establishment
and
must always wash our hands carefully after handling the feeders. Hope this
helps.

Sheri Howe
Santa Cruz





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--MS_Mac_OE_3191401032_305061_MIME_Part
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I received this email from my North Bay Bird list and thought it might be r=
elevant to all the EBB'ers like myself who are enjoying the siskins this yea=
r. Food for thought!

Beth Newman

om>, <south-bay-birds at plaidworks.com>

 worth

passing on (originally posted on Monterey Bay Birds).

Siobhan Ruck, SF

----- Original Message -----

Dear MBBers,

     Have had many calls and e-mails and have seen a co=
uple of MBB postings

regarding the DFG News Release directing those feeding birds to remove thei=
r

feeders and not put up again for 30 days. I had many questions about this P=
R

piece, especially because I had been told last time we had a siskin invasio=
n

that

they were infected with a virus, not salmonellosis. I believe in going to
the

source for information and so had a long conversation this morning with DFG=
Wildlife Veterinarian Pam Swift who graciously answered all my questions an=
d

understood that I was trying to make sure I was passing on the right

information

to all those concerned with the welfare of birds.

     The first question I had was whether they had actu=
ally tested dead

birds

and discovered salmonellosis or if they just had assumed that was the most<=
BR>
likely cause. She said that they had conducted tests and that the dead

siskins

they had tested had indeed died of salmonellosis. When I asked why no other=
birds were affected when it is a non-specific bacteria, she said they don't=
know

why they are more susceptible. I asked if it were, as I've been told in the=
past, because they had come a long way and were tired, weak and hungry and<=
BR>
she

said "That's one theory." I then asked  if half of all peopl=
e feeding birds

stopped feeding wouldn't that then cause crowding at the remaining feeders<=
BR>
thus

making it more likely that disease would flourish. She said I had a point.<=
BR>
When

I asked if more birds might be more likely to starve now due to this DFG
they issued this proclamation mainly to get people to stop calling the West=
Nile hotline about their dead birds. I asked if those people who have not
seen

any sick or dead birds at their feeders should take their feeders down and<=
BR>
she

said she did not see why they should, but that they should watch for any
birds and if they saw any then take the feeders down and wash and clean up<=
BR>
any

debris under the feeders. I asked if chlorine bleach was effective in

killing

the bacteria and she said yes. She said wooden feeders were more difficult<=
BR>
to

clean, which is true. I asked what effect keeping the feeders down for 30
days

would have since there is always the possibility of salmonellosis at a bird=
feeder and wouldn't the problem crop up again as soon as the feeders were
put

back up. She said I was right, but that they wanted to nip this particular<=
BR>
cycle in the bud. (I guess by having the birds go away...I'm not clear how<=
BR>
this

helps.) She did say this was a much lighter year as far as sisken deaths
surprised by

this Press Release being issued when it didn't seem to be a big problem thi=
s

year and she said it wouldn't have been issued if it weren't for the need t=
o

calm West Nile fears. Anyway, bottom line, as always, is how important it i=
s

that those of us feeding birds must maintain a clean feeding establishment<=
BR>
and

must always wash our hands carefully after handling the feeders. Hope this<=
BR>
helps.

Sheri Howe

Santa Cruz

ONT> ADVERTISEMENT

bscribe at yahoogroups.com?subject=3DUnsubscribe>=20
;http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> . 



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