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-----Original message----- From: geneseebirds-l-requ...@geneseo.edu To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Sent: Sat, Mar 9, 2013 01:59:41 GMT+00:00 Subject: GeneseeBirds-L Digest, Vol 116, Issue 16 Send GeneseeBirds-L mailing list submissions to geneseebird...@geneseo.edu To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to geneseebirds-l-requ...@geneseo.edu You can reach the person managing the list at geneseebirds-l-ow...@geneseo.edu When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of GeneseeBirds-L digest..." Today's Topics: 1. South End of Irondequoit Bay - March 8th (Steve Taylor) 2. Re: salmonella poisoning (Wild Birds Unlimited) 3. Salmonellosis (David Prill) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:48:41 -0500 From: Steve Taylor <steve...@rochester.rr.com> To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] South End of Irondequoit Bay - March 8th Message-ID: <20130309004841.ZAXAF.105246.root@hrndva-web10-z02> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 I studied the congregation of gulls at the south end of Irondequoit Bay this afternoon between 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The lighting was excellent with the late afternoon sun. There were probably 2,000+ gulls spread out from the southeastern corner near Bazil restaurant to Sutter's Marine on the western shore, resting on the ice and feeding in the open water. Great Black Backed Gull: over 150 split about evenly between full adults and various immature stages. The adults were stunning in the bright sunshine; most appeared to be in full breeding plumage. Glaucous Gull: 3. There were two very white immature birds between the first and second cycles, with black-tipped pink bills. One bird's black tip was about 25% of the length of the bill; the other's black tip was about 33% of the length of the bill. The third bird was an almost-adult that looked to be exiting the third cycle and entering full adult-hood. It was immaculately white about the head, but its bill did not have a red gonys spot; instead there was just a slight hint of a black ring around the bill about one-quarter of the way from the tip. Thayer's Gull: 1. This bird was a full adult, in breeding plumage. It was noticeably smaller than the Herring gulls standing near it; about midway in size between the Ring Billed and Herring gulls. It had an immaculate white head - no streaking at all. Its overall aura was of a much daintier bird than the Herrings. Its legs were very pink in the bright sunshine. Its yellow bill had a very small red gonys spot; much smaller than the spots on the Herring gulls' bills, and almost hard to discern if the bird did not have its head at the right angle to my view through the scope. Steve Taylor Pittsford, NY ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:06:59 -0500 From: Wild Birds Unlimited <wbubl...@verizon.net> To: geneseebird...@geneseo.edu Subject: Re: [GeneseeBirds-L] salmonella poisoning Message-ID: <513a8b33.3050...@verizon.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed We (Wild Birds Unlimited owners) have been made aware of Salmonella in Siskins and Redpolls since early Jan. Below are many articles on the subject. This is long, but worth reading to the end. Here is what was said by a new Wild Birds Unlimited store owner. Please note his credentials under his name: "I wanted to share some information about sick or dying Pine Siskins. I am new to this list as I, along with my wife Barbara and a good friend, Becky Uhler, are in the process of opening our new Wild Birds Unlimited store here in Eugene, Oregon. I have taught Ornithology in the biology Department of the University of Oregon for over 30 years and I also often respond to questions asked on a listserv of birders in Oregon (OBOL, Oregon Birders OnLine). Questions concerning sick Pine Siskins come up every couple of years. Here is my response to one person who felt like she must be doing something wrong and wondered if she should stop feeding for awhile. --- The usual cause of sick and dying Pine Siskins is Salmonella bacteria. There are two primary species of the Salmonella bacteria that often infect birds, but these are subdivided into over 2,300 variants and to make matters more confusing, some of these variants are sometimes referred to as if they were a separate species. Thus, Salmonella enterica typhimurium (a common type of fowl typhoid) is often simply called S. typhimurium. This can be confusing when trying to find information online about Salmonella. One of the two species (S. pulorum) most often infects waterfowl and grouse, and most frequently, domestic fowl. The other species (S. enterica and its many strains) is what infects many wild birds (and people). Different species of birds can react differently to infections of Salmonella. One study on Herring Gulls showed they passed out the bacteria in their feces, but showed no physical symptoms at all. Some kinds of birds show mild lethargy for a day or so, but little else. On the other end of the spectrum are Pine Siskins who seem to be more susceptible than any other species. I don't know the physiological reasons for such differences, (or if they are even known) but it seems to be the case that Pine Siskins have a much higher mortality rate from this disease. A friend of mine who has an international reputation among wildlife rehabilitators and has over 30 years of experience, tells me that she has never successfully been able to save a Pine Siskin that has been infected with Salmonella. They always die before any treatment has time to work. It is distressing to see them come to feeders being sick and dying. We have had many sick siskins at our feeders this year as well. These kinds of outbreaks of Salmonella are more common in the west than in the east, but I don't know why, as conditions are not that different. Salmonella as a disease in birds, is relatively rare in the wild, but outbreaks do occur from time to time and then we often see the evidence at our feeders. Many birds with mild infections can carry the disease without showing any symptoms and simply pass it out in their feces. But the bacteria is still active. When a susceptible individual of an easily-infected species, like Pine Siskin, picks up the bacteria, it proliferates quickly in the infected bird's gut and is passed along to others via the feces. Salmonella is most easily passed between individuals by contact with the feces from infected birds and Pine Siskins are especially social, allowing such easy transmission of this disease. Feeding in close association with one another makes it a certainty that the disease will be passed to other individuals from an infected one. Keeping feeders clean is essential at such times, but unfortunately, that alone will not prevent the spread of this disease. It is recommended that feeders be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution (followed by careful rinsing then complete drying before reuse) and/or that feeding be stopped for a period of time (2 weeks?) to let the birds move on and not get reinfected. However, the bacteria can survive for many months on uncleaned feeders, on the ground, on plant or other surfaces. It can be passed by other birds less susceptible to the disease, by reptiles, mammals or even some invertebrates. Preventing it is almost impossible. Once brought to a communal feeding area (which can be a wild feeding area or a feeding station), the disease quickly spreads. Even if you are very efficient about keeping your feeders and feeding area clean, Salmonella may be brought in from surrounding wild areas. Salmonella is less frequent, but still very common in Evening Grosbeak, House Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, and Goldfinches (especially American). It occasionally occurs in House, Purple, and Cassin's Finch and is infrequent to rare in most other species of songbirds. Because siskins are the most susceptible, and because they are so tame and can be numerous at feeders, we see it in them most often. However, be assured that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing and that this disease is just as frequent in wild areas as it is at feeders. We just see it more easily at feeders because of their high visibility. There is also no difference between using shelled or unshelled seed! The seed you supply is NOT the source of this infection. The bacteria is spread via the feces of infected birds which which can get on either type of seed with equal ease. Pine Siskins can be messy eaters and spill many seeds on the ground. I have used both shelled and unshelled black oil sunflower and the mess below the feeder when Pine Siskins arrive is about the same. With many birds feeding at the same time, it is inevitable that some seed will be contaminated by feces. This happens in wild areas just as frequently as at your feeders. If you handle a sick or dead bird, or feeders where lethargic siskins have been attending, be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly. This form of Salmonella can be transmitted to humans and is the most common type of "food poisoning." It will cause extreme diarrhea and very, very intense intestinal pain. Death has been known, but is uncommon; however dehydration is typical and may be what ultimately kills the Pine Siskins. Having experienced Salmonella poisoning personally (from an unknown source), I can assure you that you do not want this. It is the single most painful experience that I have ever had. Keep your feeders clean and intensify doing so when many siskins are frequent, but be assured that you are doing nothing to cause this naturally occurring and cyclic problem." Dan Gleason dan-glea...@comcast.net ? Author of "Birds! From the Inside Out" and "Looking for Yellowheads" ? Instructor of Field Ornithology, University of Oregon ? Co-owner, Wild Birds Unlimited of Eugene (Opening April 2013) Other articles given to us to help explain to our customers: Salmonellosis: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/schoolyard/all_about_birds/feeding_birds/bird_di seases.html Salmonellosis is caused by a bacteria belonging to the genus Salmonella. It is a common cause of mortality in feeder birds, but the symptoms are not always obvious. Sick birds may appear thin, fluffed up, and depressed and may have pasted vents and swollen eyelids. They are often lethargic and easy to approach. Some infected birds may show no outward signs, but are carriers of the disease and can spread the infection to other birds. Salmonellosis is primarily transmitted by fecal contamination of food and water by birds, though it can also be transmitted by ingestion of contaminated feeds or from bird-to-bird contact. Occasionally, outbreaks of the disease cause significant mortality in certain species. Salmonellosis (sal-muh-nel-LOW-sis) http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/coping_with_diseases_at_bir dfeeders.jsp Salmonellosis is a general term for any disease in animals and people caused by a group of bacteria known by the Latin name Salmonella. Birds can die quickly if the Salmonella bacteria spread throughout the body. Abscesses often form in the lining of the esophagus and crop as part of the infection process. Infected birds pass bacteria in their fecal droppings. Other birds get sick when they eat food contaminated by the droppings. Salmonellosis is the most common bird-feeder disease. Do bird feeders spread disease? http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/FAQsBirdFeeding.htm#Spr eadDisease This question has at times been debated in the media. Feeders, especially improperly maintained feeders, can spread disease. However, there's no way to know if disease transmission at feeders is any less or greater than disease transmission in the wild. Birds that contract and spread diseases, such as salmonellosis, at feeders are typically social by nature and would aggregate whether at feeders or not. Public health significance http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/whealth/issues/salmonellosis.pdf Salmonellosis is of public health concern because all strains of Salmonella are potentially pathogenic to humans and animals. However, it appears that wild birds mainly acquire the disease from the environment and that infected wild birds play a relatively small role in the transmission of disease to domestic animals and humans. While dogs and cats are rarely infected, pets should be discouraged from consuming bird carcasses to reduce risk of contracting salmonellosis. Any potential human risk can be minimized by wearing disposable gloves when cleaning a bird feeder or birdbath. Key Messages - Salmonellosis Outbreaks ? Despite what some media has implied, people who feed the birds should not be blaming themselves because they see sick birds at their bird-feeding stations. In fact, the disease, which is transmitted by infected fecal matter, can occur wherever flocking species gather together -- in the woods, fields or barnyards. Birds that feed in landfills, dung piles, waste water discharge areas, and sewage lagoons are also at a high risk to be infected. ? While Wild Birds Unlimited has extensive experience and expertise in the care and feeding of wild birds, the company is not the expert on salmonellosis. We have expert resources we can use to help educate our customers with the facts about salmonellosis, and our aim is to be the conduit, if needed, so that your customers know how to obtain more information from these experts. ? In following the recommendation of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), advise your customers to ?temporarily discontinue bird feeding, or take extra steps to maintain feeders,? if they have Pine Siskin, goldfinch or House Finch showing symptoms of salmonellosis. These symptoms include droopiness, diarrhea, and severe lethargy,fluffed out feathers and are easy to approach. Some birds may appear severely emaciated or be observed to seizure. ? Please ask customers to report any sick birds to their nearest Wild Birds Unlimited store or local wildlife officials. ? If your customers have removed their feeders after observing infected finches, you can recommend the following steps: o Remove all feeders for a few days. o Clean and sanitize all feeders, poles and the feeding area (See Responsible Birdfeeding Handout.) o Reinstall multiple feeders in new locations that are spread far apart from one another. Reducing crowding at feeders helps reduce stress and the transmission of the disease. o Replace wooden feeders with ones made of plastic or recycled materials. Wood is very difficult to sanitize. o Do not reinstall feeders that allow contact between fecal material and food (such as platform or tray feeders) o Initially provide food and feeders that will not attract finches (suet, safflower, peanuts, hummingbird feeders, etc.) o Reinstall finch feeders and food after an additional two weeks. o Clean feeders and birdbaths with a 10% bleach solution several times a week, be sure that feeders are dry before filling them with seed. ? If customers have not observed finches with any symptoms of the disease, you can recommend the following steps: o They can continue to feed by taking a few extra steps to maintain feeders. o Advise them to clean and sanitize all feeders, poles and their feeding area as soon as possible. o Have them follow the recommendations found in the Responsible Birdfeeding Handout and or the National Wildlife Health Center recommendations. o They can continue to provide food and feeders that will not attract finches (suet, safflower, peanuts, hummingbird feeders, etc.) even if they choose to stop feeding finches. o If they continue providing finch feeders and food they should sanitize their feeders every few days. o The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) also recommends that they,? reduce the number of feeders they maintain and spread them out, use feeders that accommodate fewer birds (using tubes rather than platforms)? and that, ?keeping bird baths and fountains clean is also important.? The Complete Story ? from the National Wildlife Health Center web site: Birds do get sick. Disease is one of many natural processes affecting wild species. Sick birds do show up at feeders, and other birds can get sick as a consequence. Just because bird feeding is not problem-free does not mean that it is bad or should be stopped. It does mean you have an ethical obligation not to jeopardize wild birds. What is called for is intelligent bird feeding. (WBU calls it responsible birdfeeding) http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/coping_with_diseases_at_bir dfeeders.jsp Wild Birds Unlimited Recommends Responsible Birdfeeding: It is always important to provide a safe feeding environment for the birds and it becomes even more critical during episodes such as a Salmonellosis outbreak. Responsible bird feeding techniques play a crucial role in helping to contain the spread of disease among bird populations. The following strategies will help you to improve the health and safety of your birds during periods of concern about the spread of avian diseases: ? Remove all open feeder trays and platform feeders that allow fecal material and food to come into contact with each other. Use only feeders that do not allow the birds to stand in, or directly above their food. ? Birdfeeders with cracks and crevices are difficult to sanitize and should not be used. Replace them with new feeders. ? Since wooden feeders are difficult to sanitize, they should be temporarily removed during disease outbreaks or replaced with feeders made of plastic or recycled materials. ? Focus on using only feeders that can be easily cleaned. ? Give the birds more space. The addition of more feeders, spread far apart from one another, will reduce the crowding of birds that is often found around a single feeder. This will reduce the bird?s stress and the potential for disease transmission between healthy and sick birds. ? Periodically move feeders to new locations in the yard to avoid the build up of waste materials and feces. Be sure to always keep the ground below and around the feeders clean. Rake up and discard seed debris and bird droppings on regular basis. ? Clean feeders, birdbaths and all hardware several times a week with a 10% bleach (one part bleach to nine parts water) solution. Rinse thoroughly and allow to completely dry before refilling feeders. ? Birdseed should be stored in rodent proof containers to avoid contamination. ? Always discard any seed that has become wet. ? Limit the amount of seed provided to only the amount the birds will use in one or two days. Clean the feeders and rake up the waste material in the area before refilling. The National Wildlife Health Center Eight Steps to Prevent or Minimize Disease Problems at Feeders: 1. Give them space - Avoid crowding by providing ample feeder space. Lots of birds using a single feeder looks wonderful, but crowding is a key factor in spreading disease. If birds have to jostle each other to reach the food, they are crowded. This crowding also creates stress which may make birds more vulnerable to disease. 2. Clean up wastes - Keep the feeder area clean of waste food and droppings. A broom and shovel can accomplish a lot of good, but a vacuum such as you might use in your garage or workshop will help even more. 3. Make feeders safe - Provide safe feeders without sharp points or edges. Even small scratches and cuts will allow bacteria and viruses to enter otherwise healthy birds. 4. Keep feeders clean - Clean and disinfect feeders regularly. Use one part of liquid chlorine household bleach in nine parts of tepid water (a 10 percent solution) to disinfect. Make enough solution to immerse an empty, cleaned feeder completely for two to three minutes. Allow to air dry. Once or twice a month should do, but weekly could help more if you notice sick birds at your feeders. 5. Use good food - Discard any food that smells musty, is wet, looks moldy or has fungus growing on it. Disinfect any storage container that holds spoiled food and the scoop used to fill feeders from it. 6. Prevent contamination - Keep rodents out of stored food. Mice can carry and spread some bird diseases without being affected themselves. 7. Act early - Don't wait to act until you see sick or dead birds. With good prevention you'll seldom find sick or dead birds at your feeders. 8. Spread the word - Encourage your neighbors who feed birds to follow the same precautions. Birds normally move among feeders and can spread diseases as they go. The safest birdfeeders will be those in communities where neighbors cooperate with equal concern for the birds. http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/pamphlets/coping_with_birdfeeder_diseas es_pamplet.pdf Also John Schaust, our own naturalist at WBU: The symptoms you describe are analogous to ones that are seen when birds are infected with avian salmonella which is also known as salmonellosis. It is primarily transmitted by fecal contamination of food and water by birds, though it can also be transmitted by ingestion of contaminated feeds or from bird-to-bird contact. Please reassure your customers that they should not blame themselves because they see sick birds at their bird-feeding stations. There's no way to know if disease transmission at feeders is any less or greater than disease transmission in the wild. Birds that contract and spread diseases, such as salmonellosis, at feeders are typically social by nature and would aggregate whether at feeders or not. In fact, salmonellosis, which is transmitted by infected fecal matter, can occur wherever flocking species gather together -- in the woods, fields or roosting locations. Unfortunately, no matter what the source of the disease is, sick birds will often congregate around feeding stations as this is the easiest source of food an infirmed bird can utilize. While Wild Birds Unlimited has extensive experience and expertise in the care and feeding of wild birds, the company is not a veterinary expert on salmonellosis. However, we do have expert resources to help educate our customers with the facts about salmonellosis and how to responsibly deal with it in their own backyards. Key information about salmonellosis is available in a packet of compiled expert advice which can be downloaded from the WBU Intranet and used to train staff and advise customers. It is available at the following link: http://www.wbustore.com/intranet/edu/Salmonellosis_Packet_0209.pdf In addition, I am always available to provide further assistance or resources. - John Schaust John F. Schaust CHIEF NATURALIST Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. Franchise Support Center 11711 North College Ave. Suite 146 Carmel, IN 46032 LOCAL: 317.208.4021 TOLL FREE: 888.302.2473 x 121 FAX NO: 317.571.7110 EMAIL: schau...@wbu.com In a nutshell: Keep feeders clean and keep feeding the birds since it will be easier for some birds to fight diseases if they have a reliable source of good foods nearby. Hope the above info helps everyone! Marilyn Pecoraro-O'Connell Wild Birds Unlimited 3835 McKinley Pkwy, Suite 1 Blasdell, NY 14219 716-823-7889 www.wbu.com/blasdell We Bring People And Nature Together! On 3/8/2013 6:57 PM, geneseebirds-l-requ...@geneseo.edu wrote: > Send GeneseeBirds-L mailing list submissions to > geneseebird...@geneseo.edu > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > geneseebirds-l-requ...@geneseo.edu > > You can reach the person managing the list at > geneseebirds-l-ow...@geneseo.edu > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of GeneseeBirds-L digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Salmonella Poisoning at Feeders (Gerry Rising) > > 5. Re: Salmonella Poisoning at Feeders (Jeffrey Reed) > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:46:42 -0500 > From: Gerry Rising <insr...@buffalo.edu> > To: Genesee Birds <geneseebird...@geneseo.edu> > Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Salmonella Poisoning at Feeders > Message-ID: <513a07e2.9060...@buffalo.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15; format=flowed > > > I recently had a call from a woman who feeds birds to tell me that > several dead redpolls she picked up near her feeders had died of > salmonella poisoning. This was identified by the DEC lab in Delmar. She > was told that redpolls and siskins were especially affected by this > toxin.In response she is taking down her feeders for this season. > > Have others had similar problems this winter? > > Regards, > Gerry > > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 18:06:23 -0500 > From: Jeffrey Reed <jeffree...@gmail.com> > To: Gerry Rising <insr...@buffalo.edu> > Cc: Genesee Birds <geneseebird...@geneseo.edu> > Subject: Re: [GeneseeBirds-L] Salmonella Poisoning at Feeders > Message-ID: > <CAFqLNR1jBzBn=rjg4UrDJwe=zCTM8aL9Kj9NWxQT=oqjrxk...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Hi Gerry, > > Yes, I got a call from a reader earlier this week but could only get > back to her today and she told me that she had 6 dead Common Redpolls > at her feeder. She lives in Cuba, NY (Allegany County) and uses black > oil sunflower and an upscale mix. She said the other birds were not > effected. > > Jeff > > On 3/8/13, Gerry Rising <insr...@buffalo.edu> wrote: >> I recently had a call from a woman who feeds birds to tell me that >> several dead redpolls she picked up near her feeders had died of >> salmonella poisoning. This was identified by the DEC lab in Delmar. She >> was told that redpolls and siskins were especially affected by this >> toxin.In response she is taking down her feeders for this season. >> >> Have others had similar problems this winter? >> >> Regards, >> Gerry >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> > > > ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2013 17:58:39 -0800 (PST) From: David Prill <ll...@yahoo.com> To: "geneseebird...@geneseo.edu" <geneseebird...@geneseo.edu> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Salmonellosis Message-ID: <1362794319.89082.yahoomail...@web140303.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I have observed four birds with salmonellosis-like symptoms at my feeders this winter in Springwater township.? At least two died.? The maximum number of redpolls at these feeders was over a hundred. The redpolls fed on the ground as much as at the feeders.? Unfortunately, the ground is a rough lawn and can not be sanitized.? I?am discontinuing feeding.? ? ?It seems possible that feeding promotes spread of the disease by concentrating the birds and their feces in a small area. >From what I've read, outbreaks of salmonellosis are common during redpoll irruptions. ? By the way, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Feeder Cam presents feeder in Manitouwadge, Ontario,?that daily have redpolls much whiter than the hoary redpoll candidates that I've seen here. ? Regards, ? David Prill -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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