Wildlife Lab Confirms Isolated Bird Death Incident

Tests at the Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell have confirmed salmonella as the cause in the deaths of about 30 pine siskins at one property in Hailey. The 30 pine siskins were among about 3,000 songbirds being fed from some 30 bird feeders on a one-acre property in the south central Idaho town. No human illness has been connected to the incident. Idaho Fish and Game wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew said incidents of songbird deaths are "unfortunately all too common in Idaho this time of year as snow starts to melt, exposing fecal material and molding bird seed and seed husks." Simple hygiene measures including cleaning feeders with soapy water and mild bleach, and removing old seeds and feces from the ground around feeders will prevent most potential diseases among birds in feeding situations. It is advisable to use gloves while doing the cleaning work. Drew and other Fish and Game officials have been in contact with the property owner to offer advice on how to deal with the current situation and to scale down the feeding effort in future winters to minimize the potential for further problems. Pine siskins, common in Idaho, are particularly prone to infections with salmonella around feeders because they are adapted to feed in treetops, not on the ground as they do when using some bird feeders, Drew said.