Is your birdfeeder killing songbirds?

Backyard birdfeeders can spread deadly germs among songbirds.

Birdfeeders help us attract desired songbirds to our yards where we can enjoy watching them and listening to them. The extra nutrition and calories provided by birdfeeders can also make a significant difference to wild birds especially during periods of severe weather when natural food sources may be covered by a late snow or reduced by drought. Many of us though, don’t think about potential hazards posed by birdfeeders and our maintenance consists of refilling the feeder when it is running low or empty and little if anything else.

In natural circumstances, there is really no instance in which so many birds of different flocks and species visit such a small area so frequently. In that regard, a birdfeeder is something like a grade school water fountain. Like the water fountain, the backyard birdfeeder can be a source of disease transmission if it isn’t cleaned regularly.

Many birdfeeders include a tray of some kind at the base of the feeder. These trays catch not only birdseed, but also fecal matter from the visiting birds. This can cause contamination of the feed and can spread disease among birds that would otherwise not be so directly exposed to harmful pathogens from birds outside their family group.

Chief among the pathogens that can be spread through dirty birdfeeders is Salmonella. Salmonella, you may recall, is also a common food-borne illness among humans. While most humans do recover, severe cases can cause dehydration and other complications ultimately resulting in death in those with compromised immune systems or other complicating medical conditions. Birds, however, tend to die fairly rapidly with a much higher frequency once infected.

While salmonella is not always present in local bird populations, it can run in cycles, and a single visit from a contaminated bird to a community birdfeeder can spread the infection widely throughout a local area. Taking steps to lower the risk to your backyard birds through proper birdfeeder maintenance can help make sure that your backyard songbird population is never affected.

In a press release issued by Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources, Jim Parkhurst, Associate Professor of Wildlife, recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of spreading Salmonella and other communicable diseases:

• Prevent overcrowding by providing birds lots of space.
• Use a rake, broom, shovel, or shop vacuum to clean the area of waste food and droppings, which should be buried.
• Make sure feeders have no sharp points that might cut birds, to help prevent germs from entering healthy birds.
• Wash feeders in warm soapy water, then immerse each clean feeder in a disinfectant solution of one part chlorine bleach in nine parts of hot water; rinse well and air dry. Do this monthly, or weekly if birds appear sick.
• Change the location of feeders regularly.
• Never use food that is musty smelling, wet, or moldy. Disinfect containers and scoops that have come in contact with such food. Buy high-quality bird seed; check current bird seed to make sure it is not among lots that have been recalled.
• Keep mice out of stored bird seed.

As with humans, a little hygiene goes a long way to prevent the spread of germs among the avian guests we invite to dinner at our backyard feeders. Don’t forget to make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning or refilling your feeder, too.