NCAS has fielded a number of questions regarding whether you should quit feeding birds because of the high incidence of salmonellosis this winter that is sickening and killing birds. Although the salmonella bacteria is commonly found among birds, the irruption of pine siskins and other finches this winter has caused a dramatic increase in the incidence of salmonellosis among birds. The WDFW is recommending that you stop feeding birds through March if you are seeing evidence of diseased and dying birds at your feeders . Included below are great resources about how to clean feeders, bird diseases, the effects on birds from feeding, and other interesting information related to feeding birds. 2/18/2021
The Cornell Lab:
Preventing disease: What’s the best way to clean your feeders?
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:
The Cornell Lab:
Why do we feed birds and should we?
Audubon:
When it’s okay or not to feed birds.
Winter Bird Feeding:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: