From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Wed Feb 16 09:32:30 2005 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id j1GHToGn006277 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:29:51 -0800 (PST) Received: from hall.mail.mindspring.net (hall.mail.mindspring.net [207.69.200.60]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id j1GHSQAf006223 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:28:26 -0800 (PST) Received: from user-2ivfnl2.dialup.mindspring.com ([165.247.222.162] helo=7jtth01) by hall.mail.mindspring.net with smtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1D1SyO-00042I-00; Wed, 16 Feb 2005 12:28:24 -0500 Message-ID: <001801c5144d$76ab43e0$7f6dfea9@7jtth01> From: "Siobhan Ruck" <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]>, <[[email protected]]> Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 09:32:17 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Cc: Subject: [SBB] Fw: [MBB] Siskins and DFG News Release 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]] 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/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]