BIRD FEEDER CARE VERY IMPORTANT   

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

For many bird enthusiasts, winter bird feeding will soon come to an end. Others may continue feeding right through the spring, summer and fall months. And there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Some of our best patronage and most colourful birds arrive with summer feeding.
 
At the very least, those who continue feeding will need to alter their feeding arrangement somewhat, removing large platform feeders to thwart the dominance by unwanted guests, and perhaps even removing self feeders and replacing these with feeders more attuned to the needs of goldfinches, house finches and others that might drop in for a bite to eat.
 
So what happens to the feeders that are removed? Generally, they are simply emptied and placed into storage until next winter rolls around. Like nesting boxes that are removed and thoroughly cleaned each fall, bird feeders, too, should receive a good cleaning and disinfecting before being placed into storage.
 
Bird feeder cleanliness continues to be emphasized in bird feeding workshops and manuals. When bird feed becomes damp from rains and thawing snow, the rotting feed becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. The spread of conjunctivitis among local house finch populations has been attributed, in part, to overcrowding at bird feeders and the spread of this contagious eye infection due to unsanitary conditions.
 
A new disease which turned up at one Trenton area feeder one winter was also attributed to conditions at feeders which often become unsanitary during periods of mild, wet weather. In this particular case, mourning doves were found with unsightly lesions about their faces. Thee disease was believed to have been  Trichomoniasis which is characterized by lesions in the upper digestive region, particularly in the mouth, esophagus, and crop of infected birds. The general symptoms include laboured breathing, weakness, and emaciation. The disease is caused by a flagellated protozoan Trichomonas gallinae. Mourning doves and common pigeons are the common carriers, but it has also been reported in wild raptors in the United States. The respondent added that it was always a good  policy to avoid feeding methods that attract large numbers of birds to a small area to deter transmission. Also, especially with Trichomoniasis, bird baths and water dishes should be cleaned regularly. Another, involving salmonella was present this winter in some wintering redpolls due to their high numbers and bacteria present at unsanitary bird feeders.
 
Keeping the bird feeding station clean is an important part of any bird feeding program. It is especially important, now that March has arrived as warm weather and spring rains will breed disease. Because birds congregate in large numbers at feeders, there is increased potential for transfer of disease from one bird to another. Although disease problems are seldom observed at most feeding stations, it is still a good idea to prevent problems before they occur.
 
Before returning the winter bird feeders to their summer storage, I always make it a practice to take a common paint scraper and remove any congealed or dried food matter from the feeder, and briskly whisk all this from the structure. An air compressor, or the exhaust connection from some vacuum cleaners will work very well too in ensuring that all foreign matter has been removed.
 
As an added precautionary measure, I also use a stiff scrub brush and disinfect my feeders with a solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water. Rinse well and allow the feeders to dry thoroughly before placing into storage.
 
It is also a good idea to maintain this schedule right through the summer in a continuing effort to remove wet and compacted seed, since wet food can quickly develop moulds which will prove fatal to your guests. It is also suggested that spilled seeds and hulls should be raked occasionally from beneath the feeder so they don’t become mouldy or interfere with grass or flower growth.