The Backyard & Beyond  - October 2003

This month I noticed a House Finch at one of our feeders (see photo at the right) with a very bad case of Avian Pox. We have had a few birds in the past with a few pox growths but this bird was very infected. I knew it probably wouldn't be around much longer which of course would be good for the other birds so it could no

longer infect them. The birds gradually get worse and infect other birds at the same time. Salmonella, along with avian pox can be your backyard birds biggest enemies.

What can we do?

1) Feeders:  Once or twice a month clean your feeders with a solution of one part bleach, ten parts water. You may have to take the feeders apart to do a good job. Allow the bleach/water mixture to set on the feeders for ten to twenty minutes, drain off the solution, and then rinse, rinse, rinse thoroughly. Allow the feeder to completely dry before refilling it. **If a feeder is moldy, scrub it thoroughly with the bleach/water solution, using a stiff brush. Then clean the feeder as above. When cleaning hummingbird or oriole feeders, be sure to clean the feeder ports well.

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These ports can easily get a black mold on them, especially during the summer.
2) Birdbath:  Wash, bleach, rinse, rinse, rinse and dry your bird bath at least once a week. If you use a bird bath heater, be sure to clean it thoroughly too.
3) Filling Feeders: Resist filling your feeders to the top. Unless you have an extraordinarily busy yard, there is no need to fill your feeders more than 1/4 full. Your busiest feeders may have to be filled to the top, but the rest do not.
4) Bird Food:  Keep bird seed dry, and discard any that might get wet. Remove any fruit, bread, seed, or suet that is molded or spoiled. Change the nectar in hummingbird and oriole feeders at least every few days, more often in hot weather.
5). Wooden Feeders: Avoid wooden feeders or feeders with wooden parts. Salmonella is very difficult to get out of wood.
6).  Too Busy:   If you are too busy to clean your feeders regularly, then don't feed the birds. Dirty feeders kill birds dead.

Did you know that those birds most people call pigeons were really known as Rock Doves  until this summer when their name was changed to ROCK PIGEONS. So now when you call them pigeons you will be right.                     Sherry Hagen,    Happy Birding