With reported cases of bird flu your typical feeding birds should be safe, but if there are turkeys or even ducks or geese around this bird feeder you might want to give it a try. a good cleaning. Michael G. Seamans / Morning Watchman
It has been a few weeks since the US Department of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Service announced the presence of "highly pathogenic avian influenza" (or bird flu) in a flock of unprotected commercial backyard chickens in Knox County. Unfortunately, more cases have since surfaced, and while this has been widely reported, I've heard from many people who are currently concerned about wild bird diets.
An American tree sparrow is unlikely to be at risk from bird flu, but keep an eye out for birds loitering or near the bird feeder. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
It is important to note that avian influenza poses a risk to domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl, but has not been known to affect songbirds or other 'feeding birds'. "If you're not caring for or raising poultry, you don't need to dismantle feeders or stop feeding wild birds. If you keep birds it is recommended to bring them indoors and keep them away from wild birds, especially if you have wild turkeys or ducks visiting your feeders.
We have also seen an increase in the number of people reporting finches with avian conjunctivitis at feeders. Conjunctivitis spreads among birds at feeding sites, particularly house finches and goldfinches at tube feeding sites. If you see this, temporarily disassemble the feeders and clean them thoroughly.
Both diseases are a good reminder to keep bird feeders and the ground under the bird feeders clean. The bird flu virus is transmitted through saliva, mucous membranes and faeces, so the risk of human infection is very low. Still, it's a good idea to take extra precautions, like wearing gloves and a mask (and possibly eye protection), especially when visiting turkeys and ducks. Discard old seeds and give feeders a good scrub with a diluted bleach or vinegar solution. Some feeders can also be machine washed; In any case, it is important to clean them and let them dry before putting them back on. Feeding birds comes with responsibility. Let's make sure we don't do more harm than good.
Bird feeders in urbanizations
Bird feeders give us an amazing window into the birdlife of our backyard. There's not much more you can do to bring the birds closer to you, literally. However, just as bird feeders make bird watching easier, they can also make it easier to spot some unwitting or unwanted visitors. A surprisingly common request we receive at Maine Audubon comes from people living in homeowners' associations, college dormitories, or other organized communities who are told not to leave birdhouses because they attract rodents. While I sympathize with musophobes (people who are afraid of rodents), I believe that most of these limitations are generally unwarranted and would like to share some tips for living with birdhouses.
First, a common saying is that "birdhouses attract rodents". I think that's the wrong way to see what's going on. Instead I would say "birdhouses make rodents visible". Those mice, voles, etc. are already there; They simply hide by feeding on natural seeds rather than risk exposing themselves (predators) and feeding on their abundant dietary supplement. I agree that increasing the amount of food may allow for greater carrying capacity of rodents in your area, but you would probably need a ton of food to have a measurable effect on the population.
What I mean is that these rodents are already there; You don't show up just because you put up a bird feeder. For quick reference, in my garden in South Windham, where there isn't a single bird feeder on the property, I found many shrews (who particularly love my woodpile), a vole (who lives under my roll), more gray squirrels than I can count and with every fall cold snap, a combination of white-footed mice and/or feral mice find their way into the walls of our home. If you have a rodent problem, you need to deal with rodents. Remove a mangeoire à oiseaux ne fera pas grand-chosé, d'autant plus qu'il s'agit d'une source de nourriture extérieure (and I prefer that you trouvent de la nourriture à l'extérieur plutôt souris trouvent de la nourriture à l'extérieur plutôt are to come as the chercher inside).
If you need to remove bird feeders for their perceived appeal, there are other ways to attract birds. Plant native plants first. Visit mainenativeplants.org for a list of plants that support birds, including some of my favorites like arrowhead blueberry and tallbush blueberry. Sunflowers are a great way to provide seeds "naturally" and you can cut off and save the heads for later in the winter. Ask if your homeowners association still allows suet or hummingbird foods. Getting creative with a bird bath or other water source can also help keep the birds close.
Feeding birds has many psychological benefits, so being able to connect with nature on a local level is especially important at a time when people are increasingly isolated and traveling less from home. In a 2017 UK study, the vast majority of participants said they felt more relaxed watching birds at a feeding station. A common conclusion from studies examining nature's impact on human psychology is that the closer we are to nature, the lower our stress levels, including improved blood pressure and heart rate. Therefore, bird watching is very good for your health.
Do you have a nature question for Doug? Email questions to [email protected] udubon.org and visit maineaudubon.org to learn more about Maine's birding, native plants, wildlife and habitat programs and events. Doug runs free birding walks at Gilsland Farm Audubon Sanctuary in Falmouth on Thursday mornings from 8am to 10am.
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