***Pine Siskins Photo Credit: Ron Parker

Washington wildlife officials are urging residents to temporarily take down backyard bird feeders amid salmonella outbreak.

“When birds flock together in large numbers at feeders, they can transmit the disease through droppings and saliva,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) veterinarian Kristin Mansfield.

The state is currently experiencing one of the largest irruptions of Pine Siskins ever recorded. To learn more about irruptions and why they occur, click here.

The dramatic increase in Pine Siskin populations leads to large congregations of flocks at feeders, and thus, exacerbating the spread of this common winter disease. 

You may have already noticed this season, birds displaying unusual behavior in your yard. Birds with salmonella will often appear lethargic, fluffed out, eyes partially closed, and are very easy to approach. They lack the skittish, alert responses that birds typically possess.

Salmonella can be passed from birds to human through direct contact. So, if you do see a sick bird, leave it alone. WDFW is asking residents to report dead or sick birds here.

Many people have expressed concerns that by pulling down their feeders, they are removing a food source and fear that it might lead to mass starvation. Pine Siskins are adapted for eating and finding natural food sources. As opportunists, they may seem to prefer the feeders for the ease, but they are very much capable of finding food elsewhere. Conifers on the Olympic Peninsula did not experience the same crop failures that occurred in conifers in parts of Northern Canada where the birds migrated from in search of food.

While many of us have enjoyed watching birds at our feeders during this time of isolation, please encourage socially distancing with your feathered friends as well. We ask you to consider taking all feeders down until the end of the month to keep your yards as safe as possible. Thank you!