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Subject:

Pine Siskin Mortality - Garrett County

From:

David Powell

Reply-To:

David Powell

Date:

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:08:23 -0500

I was asked to forward the message below concerning recent Pine Siskens which have been dying in significant numbers in Garrett County and West Virginia. Please note the recommended action if needed.

Dave Powell



Germantown, MD





Hi all,

Well thanks to our connection on the list and Fran putting us in the right direction, it does look like salmonella.  

We packaged and shipped 5 birds to the National Wildlife Health Center and will wait for confirmation.  We are also working on a statewide level with our wildlife veterinarian.  It is in bird flocks in WVA and so probably here as well.

There are news release below from The Three Rivers Avian Center and a link to a peanut butter suet cake recall. 



NOT to worry but they are recommending cleaning you feeders, stations and perches as Fran suggested and not putting feeders back out for at least a week.

This will give the birds the idea to spread out and if they are not congregating at feeders it is less likely they will spread the illness.



Humans and pets are safe as BUT do take precautions:

Do not touch bare handed

Bag any dead birds twice and throw away or burn

Clean rails and perches

Keep Dogs/cats away from feeding stations

Wash your hands after any contact with feeders etc.



They would also like me to keep reporting numbers and incidences of mortality.  So if you don't mind if you find dead birds or hear of any please pass it along to me...via the list is fine.





The link below takes you to information about RECALLED suet cakes containing peanut butter

Ongoing Issues Regarding Peanut Corporation of America Result in Scotts Voluntarily Recalling Five Wild Bird Food Suet Products That May Contain PCA Peanut Meal (February 16)
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:22:00 -0600

The Scotts Company LLC announced today that it is voluntarily recalling specific lots of five varieties of suet wild bird food products after learning those products may contain peanut meal purchased from the Peanut Corporation of America's (PCA) plant in Blakely, Georgia, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.



ISSUE ALERT: SOME PINE SISKINS DYING NEAR FEEDING AREAS
Alert dated February 12, 2009





      It is strongly suspected that an outbreak of salmonella poisoning may
      be starting to occur in some isolated feeding stations in West Virginia.
      Salmonella caused many deaths of pine siskins, red polls, evening
      grosbeaks and goldfinches in eastern North America during the winter
      of 1997 to 1998.

      What is salmonella: Salmonella is a normally occurring bacteria found in the gut of many wild and domestic birds and usually causes no harm to the bird or any other individual, human or otherwise. An outbreak of the disease comes when songbirds are stressed, such as from a sudden and prolonged cold snap (like we just had), ice storms, or from having to compete for food at a heavily used feeder. The disease is most commonly spread from bird to bird via feces dropped onto the feeding tray or ground.


      Why we are issuing this alert: It must be stressed that no testing has been done as yet on the dead birds found so far to determine the cause of death. We suspect salmonella due to the numbers and locations where these birds were found and the lack of other presenting causes of death. The dead or sick birds can be easily caught by predators such as cats, transferring the disease to them and potentially to their owners. Although there is currently no cause for alarm, being aware of the potential and taking steps to prevent the disease in wild birds at your feeders is a prudent course of action.

      What to look for: Sick songbirds will often sit unusually quietly on their perch, even at a feeder, fluffed, lethargic, head drooped and wings out as if to keep their balance. They may have labored breathing or appear to be sleeping with their head under their wing. They will often appear indifferent to what is going on around them and are frequently very reluctant to fly when approached.

      What can be done: Keep your bird feeders and bird baths clean. (See disinfecting instructions below.) Make sure that the feed in your bird feeders is always clean and dry, with no mold or plants growing in it. If you are not seeing the above mentioned types of behavior at your feeding stations, keep feeders clean, continue feeding and enjoying the bird show. If you are seeing this sort of trouble, dont panic, but discontinue feeding wild birds for two weeks and thoroughly disinfect your feeders and nearby perches by following these simple directions. Remember to wear rubber gloves:

      For perches and feeders, first scrape off and throw away in the trash all oils, feces, etc left on surfaces by the birds as well as all seeds and anything else in the feeder. Thoroughly wash & scrub all surfaces (inside and out) with dish detergent or a solution of Simple Green cleaner, rinse, then liberally apply 10% bleach solution to all surfaces (1 part Clorox bleach to 9 parts clear water), paying special attention to nooks and crannies. Rinse off with clear water after 15 minutes and allow to air dry.

      For the ground below feeding areas, rake up and dispose of (in the trash!) all hulls, shells, droppings, etc, scratching up the surface of the dirt thoroughly. Wet the soil to complete dampness (you don't need to create a lake) with a 10% bleach solution and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse/wash the area with clear water. Allow it to drain & dry completely.

      What to do if you find dead pine siskins at your feeding area: First make sure that they didn't accidentally kill themselves on a nearby window. You may bury the bird or dispose of the body in the trash can. If you suspect the bird may have been ill and would like to get it tested, pick the bird up by covering it with a multi-layer piece of newspaper to protect your hands, then place it in a sealed plastic zip lock bag in your freezer. Thoroughly wash your hands, and call Three Rivers Avian Center for more information: 304-466-4683. Watch your feeders for any signs of other birds in distress
     



Please share this information.  We are working on a press release (probably state wide at this point) For the safety of the flocks as hard as it will be we need to pull in our feeders for at least a week.



Thanks everyone, Caroline



Caroline Blizzard

Director, The Discovery Center

at Deep Creek Lake State Park

898 State Park Rd

Swanton, MD  21561

(301) 387-7067