From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Wed Feb 16 10:16:17 2005 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id j1GICwGm007300 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:12:58 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtp.inreach.com (smtp.inreach.com [209.142.2.34]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with SMTP id j1GIBsAf007243 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:11:55 -0800 (PST) Received: (qmail 4781 invoked from network); 16 Feb 2005 18:12:05 -0000 Received: from [209.209.14.97] (HELO [209.209.14.97]) (209.209.14.97) by smtp.inreach.com (qpsmtpd/0.28) with ESMTP; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:12:05 -0800 Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Sender: [[email protected]] Message-Id: In-Reply-To: <001801c5144d$76ab43e0$7f6dfea9@7jtth01> References: <001801c5144d$76ab43e0$7f6dfea9@7jtth01> Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 10:11:48 -0800 To: "Siobhan Ruck" <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]> From: Ruth Troetschler <[[email protected]]> Subject: Re: [SBB] Fw: [MBB] Siskins and DFG News Release Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5b1 Cc: X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5b1 Precedence: list List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Unsubscribe: , List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] This is how I responded to a friend who asked whether I was going to take down my feeders. I sprayed my feeders with 10% bleach solution, and intend to do so every other day. I also raked the ground beneath to stir up the soil and replace the area dug out by the doves which feed below. I do not intend to take the feeders down, because PISI are obviously here because they are short of food in the areas where they normally go. I'm sure I would kill more by starvation than disease if I follow the disinfection program. Ruth Troetschler At 9:32 AM -0800 2/16/05, Siobhan Ruck wrote: >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 > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. >south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) >Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: >http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/rebugging%40batnet.com > >This email sent to [[email protected]] _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]