By: Bobby Smith

I have received several calls the last few weeks with clients who are distraught over dead songbirds in or around their bird feeders. Earlier this spring I received an e-mail from a fellow agent in a county north of Morgan County with the same issue. He had observed the same problem in his county. He submitted three birds to Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) to be tested for Salmonella, and all three birds tested positive.
If you are seeing dead birds in or around your feeders or birdbaths, I just wanted to make you aware of the problem and share some suggestions from the SCWDS.

The researcher at the SCWDS lab offered the following information about the outbreak:
•Salmonella bacteria are naturally found in many wild and domestic bird species
•Stress from severe weather and high concentrations of birds during spring (such as those found around bird feeders and bird baths) contribute to outbreak and disease spread.
•Because of large congregations of birds at feeders this time of year, this is when we usually see Salmonella outbreaks
•Cats that eat dead birds can pick up the Salmonella and possibly spread it to the humans that are caring for them.

To help stop the spread of the disease, there are several steps that you can take if you believe the Salmonella outbreak has affected your area:
1. Remove all bird feeders and bird baths and clean up residual seed.  It's important for the birds to disperse to help control the spread of disease.
2. Disinfect all bird feeders and bird baths with 1 part bleach and 9 parts water
3. Do not place the bird seed back out for at least one month after you see the last sick or dying bird on your property
4. Clean out feeders at least every two weeks when you start feeding again to help prevent buildup of bacteria and fungi that can contribute to diseases in birds.
 
For information on this and other problems, contact your local UGA Cooperative Extension Office or call 1800ASKUGA1 or 18002758421.

Printed in the May 28, 2009 Edition.