Bird feeders and bird baths are a wonderful way to attract birds to your backyard. To help prevent the spread of the diseases among birds, especially salmonellosis, it is recommended by experts that bird feeders and bird baths be disinfected regularly with a 10% bleach solution. Also, periodically move the feeders and baths so that seed and feces do not collect under them.

Another communicable bird disease is conjunctivitis, which affects the eyes of house finches and some goldfinches. Tube feeders should also be disinfected regularly, since the birds pass the disease to other birds when they eat seeds from the small openings, and their eyes come in contact with the feeder. Another preventive measure is to switch to platform feeders.

This is the time of year when rehabilitators get phone calls for injured or orphaned birds. Here are some tips on what to do if you have a bird emergency......

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Don't be too eager to rescue a fully feathered young songbird (fledgling) that can't quite fly. An uninjured, young looking bird found on the ground may not be an orphan. The first thing you need to do is assess the animal for any obvious injuries such as an oddly angled leg or wing, puncture wounds or bleeding. If the bird is healthy looking, you should next allow the bird to perch on your finger. If the bird is able to grip your finger firmly, the baby bird is a fledgling. However, if the bird is not able to cling to your finger, it is probably a nestling.

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Link: http://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/

The following information is from Piedmont Wildlife Center

Alert: Salmonella Suspected in Pets with Exposure to Dead Pine Siskins and Goldfinches

It has recently been documented that there is an outbreak of Salmonella killing songbirds in the Southeastern United States (http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/03/15/birds0315.html). In the last 3 weeks, Bowman Animal Hospital has hospitalized three cats and one dog due to suspected Salmonella infection from contact with sick or dead Pine Siskin or Goldfinch songbirds. It was confirmed by the North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory that a dead Goldfinch (which one of the pets had in its mouth) tested positive for a Salmonella isolate belonging to serogroup B. This serogroup includes serotypes that can infect humans and animals. This is not the same strain of Salmonella found in the birdseed that was recently recalled or the peanut butter sold for human consumption. For information on the recall see: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/fooddrug/feed/BirdFoodRecallFAQ

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