Saturday, March 21, 2009

Bird Salmonella in Southeast not Attributable to Peanuts

I was surprised to the point of a smile and head shake yesterday when I opened my door and two pine siskins, a house finch and a nuthatch were looking at me. My feeders are still down but my diners haven't given up. They keep checking to see what I'm offering.
And because disease in your own backyard feels personal, I was interested in this report from the Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDRAP) released on March 18th.

The report states that the current outbreak of salmonella in the southeast has not been attributed to tainted peanuts or the salmonella that has infected humans related to peanut products. The strain that has been isolated in the bird population here is a different strain of the disease. Additionally, even though the irruptive pine siskin population has been the most affected, the disease was found in other species prior to wintering finch arrival. The report also states that outbreaks of disease occur periodically and though the reasons aren't clearly understood, it happens. This, of course, doesn't answer all our questions or dissolve the discomfort of finding diseased birds at your feeders, but at least it is more information. What feels very personal in the beginning gradually becomes another phenomenona of nature that disserves observation and research.

In the meantime, follow safe feeding procedures. Spring has arrived. Time passes and so also will disease.

8 comments:

  1. Your siskin photos were beautiful! I've been monitoring mine - they all look healthy and frisky - so far so good. But it'll be time for them to migrate onward soon.

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  2. I keep wondering, when do they migrate? My TN breeding bird atlas says some stay and breed here after an irruption. I guess we'll see...

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  3. I had one sick bird and none after that as far as I know. With that said, I am looking forward to not feeding for the summer. Of course I will provide clean water daily and fill up my hummingbird feeders, but that's it. I need a break from disinfecting so many feeders each week!

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  4. I'm with you on that, Kim. Fresh water and healthy birds for spring.

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  5. I think if I had birds waiting at my back door I might give in and at least feed the ones there right then! But I guess not if it was going to make the disease problem greater.

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  6. Hey, Mick. It has been hard to see their bright eyes and refrain from feeding. But the good news is, I've actually passed the two week mark so I can start feeding again tomorrow.

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  7. lovely photos, I hope the puzzle of the disease is solved soon

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  8. Thanks for sharing that.. Had just seen the word "salmonella" in a Birding About.com digest.. Lost two RC Kinglets with a third that did not look well last I saw it about a month ago..

    Have had a LOT of experiences with Nature over the years but never one quite like that until now.. Finally good to have a target topic to read up on cross my inbox.. :)

    Best wishes to everyone.. :)

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