Songbird Is Dying and Baths and Feeders Are Blamed

The pine siskin, a Californian songbird is dying and baths and feeders are blamed. According to the CDFW (Fish and Wildlife California Department), the main culprit behind the deadly epidemic that strikes the pine siskin population is Salmonellosis, a Salmonella-caused infection.

A Californian songbird is dying and baths and feeders are blamed by the CDFW. The officials reported that more than three hundred of these small, Californian songbirds were found dead since the beginning of December.

The dead pine siskins were found in the Redding area and in several regions of the South and Central Coast of California. All of these areas are abundant in bird baths and feeders. An environmental scientist from the CDWF, Krysta Rogers, is urging the Californian people to take down the baths and feeders that they have in their backyards or on their balconies.

The Salmonella bacteria can be transmitted via contaminated food or feces. So a diseased bird can infect any perch, soil, bath, and feeder. That is why the people are advised to take them down, clean them up thoroughly and wait until the epidemic is over until hanging them up again.

Also, for the sale of the small pine siskins, the California inhabitants should regularly clean and disinfect their perches. Especially if they know that birds visit them often.

The CDW declared that a similar Salmonellosis epidemics broke out last year. Since the pine siskin is a very small bird, its size can be compared to that of a sparrow, the bird is very sensible to the Salmonella bacteria.

A bird that becomes infected with the deadly bacteria can die in just 24 hours since the infection occurred. There were three hundred registered cases of pine siskins that died due to Salmonellosis. This is why the CDWF is urging the people to take down the baths and feeders in the California area.

Also, people are asked to announce the authorities any suspicious dead or ill birds that they find. An ill bird can be easily recognized because they have trouble breathing and can sit for long periods of time keeping their feathers ruffled or fluffed.

Backyard birding is actually a very popular hobby among Americans. This means that there are a lot of people out there who take care of wild birds, providing them with water and food.

But the authorities are advising backyard birding amateurs to follow a couple of rules to make sure that they don’t endanger nature’s winged singers.

First of all, they have to make sure that the food they provide is natural and not perishable. The water must be changed constantly, especially in the summer. Also, bird enthusiasts are urged not to use chemicals around the bird feeders and provide a minimum cover for them, as birds are vulnerable while feeding.

A Californian songbird is dying and baths and feeder are blamed. The CDWF is recommending Californians to take the devices down until the epidemic is eradicated.

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