[Tweeters] King 5 News Tonight - Take down Hummingbird Feeders

[Carolyn Heberlein]

Hi Tweeters,

I am just wondering what you all think about the story that I heard tonight
on King 5 news about salmonella and taking down bird feeders and emptying
bird baths. They said even hummingbird feeders should be taken down.
Personally, I feel that my 2 pair of hummingbirds rely on the 5 feeders in
my garden for winter sustenance. If I thought they could survive without
the nectar then I would be happy to take them down.

I've never seen any bird except Anna's at my hummingbird feeders. Maybe a
Rufous sneaked in during the summer, but I missed it.

A couple months ago, I saw Pine Siskins at my thistle seed feeder. When I
heard that they had salmonella, I stopped filling it. I saw 2 sick siskins
but no others.

I still have my suet feeders up. Many bush tits visit them as well as
bewicks wrens and townsend warblers - even the juncos!! And of course,
sometimes northern flickers,  stellar jays, and starlings.

Also, in the wintery weather that we are getting this weekend, I empty my
bird baths every night so that they don't freeze.  Then I refill them in
the morning.

I would be willing to stop all of this for the health of the birds, except
the hummingbird feeders. I feel like my lovely Anna's might die if I didn't
provide them some sugar water.

What say you all?

Thank you, Carolyn



-- 
Carolyn Finder Heberlein / Nana, Fremont Neighborhood, Seattle, Washington
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