[Tweeters] Pine Siskins ill and dying

[Peggy Mundy]

This is why I cringe when the PISIs show up at my feeder, which they do every winter.  They are pugnacious little guys that keep the other (bigger) birds away from the feeder, they are more prone to window strikes at my house than any other species, and they inevitably turn up sick.  I'm debating taking down the seed feeder for the winter as most of the other species I get are more flexible in their diet and will go to the suet feeder.
Peggy Mundy -- Bothell, WA



 

    On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, 01:51:05 p.m. PST, Steven Dammer <dammerecologist1990 at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 Thank you for the update!

I noticed I had a Pine Siskin at my feeder that was moving a bit slower than the rest recently. Still alert and active, but slow enough that I was able to walk right up to it and have it hop onto my finger (It may have just been a particularly gluttonous Siskin though, since it wouldn't stop eating)

I did make sure to wash my feeder out with hot water and bleach last night, however. I'm hoping that by doing so once a week should be enough.
Cheers,
Steven D.
On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 1:18 PM Izzy & Kendrick <gobirder at gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

As of this morning, I’ve seen several random reports in the Seattle area of folks with seed feeders finding sick or dead Pine Siskin. It appears that, especially with the large numbers of these birds around this year, that they are quite possibly spreading salmonella and who knows what else.

This is a reminder to disinfect your feeders and birdbaths as often as possible.

We have personally opted to take our feeders down, at least for a while. The PISI have been aggressively dominating the feeders, so it seems like the best decision at this time.

I have also heard about PISI striking several windows in our neighborhood. Yet another reason for us to remove the feeders.

Thank you for keeping our birds safe,
izzy arévalo wong
seattle wa


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