I receive sighting info from wva listserv and thought this article might prove
of interest to va birders too. Due to my lack of finesse on the iPad, I have
forwarded the entire contents of today's listing so just disregard anything
else.
Patti Reumpareum
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: WV-BIRD automatic digest system <LISTSERV@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: November 24, 2012 12:00:11 AM EST
To: WV-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: WV-BIRD Digest - 22 Nov 2012 to 23 Nov 2012 (#2012-317)
Reply-To: Audubon birding discussion for WV <WV-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
There are 4 messages totaling 258 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Pine Siskins the cause of major die-off of birds at your feeder?
2. Brant etc.
3. FeederWatch
4. WW Crossbill & swans
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Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:27:21 -0500
From: Casey Rucker <autoblock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Pine Siskins the cause of major die-off of birds at your feeder?
Hi, all,
Having experienced double-digit finch deaths in my yard, including two
confirmed by a US Fish & Wildlife lab as dying of salmonellosis, I think the
Gazette article performs an important public service. It is impressive to
see the DNR out ahead of the curve on a problem that is likely to be severe.
Historically, Pine Siskin irruptions are often associated with widespread
salmonella mortality.
One reason I have read that Pine Siskins are singled out as vectors of
salmonellosis is that their bills are not well adapted to crack black oil
sunflower seeds. When a siskin is suffering from advanced salmonella
poisoning, very often it is unable to crack the shells, and so it spits out
the seeds, now covered in salmonella bacteria. These seeds can then deal
death sentences to the birds who pick them up.
Pine Siskins are also very gregarious, and congregate in large flocks at
feeders. This behavior is a great opportunity for spreading disease as well.
I also have some information to add.
First, here's what a salmonellotic finch looks and acts like: fluffed out
feathers, lethargic, blinking, stays put on close approach by a human, then
flies weakly and only a short distance away. By the time a finch has these
outward symptoms, it probably has no more than 24 hours to live, and is
highly contagious both orally and through its feces. It does not take much
empathy to see that the bird is also suffering horribly.
The next thing to remember is that as soon as someone sees a sick finch at
the feeders, it is crucial to STOP FEEDING for at least two weeks, in order
to avoid spreading this fatal and highly contagious disease. (From what I
understand, it was unknown among finch populations in North America before
the institution of modern farming practices that pour raw sewage on fields
as fertilizer.)
However clean a feeder may be, a sick finch will spread disease among the
healthy flock. Once an area is contaminated with salmonella, birds feeding
on the ground can also contract the disease. Salmonella can live on the
ground for years. I know from personal experience.
Also, if there are sick finches around, keep your cats inside! Predators
can get this disease too, and the sick birds are easy prey.
It is also worth mentioning that humans can also contract salmonellosis, so
everyone should be careful when cleaning a contaminated area. With that
said, I have not come across any account of a person getting the disease
this way.
I now only use shelled sunflower seeds and other nuts, in a small area where
all I put out is eaten by nightfall. When I see the first heart-breakingly
sick finch this winter (and I expect they will be here with this irruption),
I will be able to clean the area easily and stop feeding until the northerly
finch migration passes by.
It was no fun having birds suffering and dying at my feeders. This is a
serious matter and deserves widespread publicity.
Thanks for reading!
Casey Rucker
Dry Fork, WV
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:09:21 +0000
From: Dave Patick <patick@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Brant etc.
Mike Griffith and I did some birding this am along Rte. 2 mainly in Mason
county.The Temp was around 54 degrees with persistent drizzle and winds from
the WSW. We visited Gallipolis Ferry, Shady Waters Campground and RCB Locks
and Dams in Apple Grove. We were excited as we located a Juvenile Brant
amidst a large flock of Canada Geese at one of the gravel pit ponds in
Gallipolis Ferry.It's very possible that this is the same group seen 2 weeks
ago at the Ravenswood Sewerage pond farther up the Ohio River.This is only
the second record of a Brant in our region with the last one reported at the
RCB Locks on November 19,2003.Some of the birds seen were:
Gallipolis Ferry:
Brant-1 Juvenile
Ring-necked Duck-10
Coot-4
Ruddy Duck-1
Kestrel-2
Shady Waters Campground:
Gadwalll-1
Green-winged Teal-1
Pied-billed Grebe-2
Red-tailed Hawk-1
RCB Locks:
Herring Gull-6
Ring-billed Gull-1
Cormorant-3
Coot-3
Hooded Merganser-3
Gadwall-20
Northern Shoveler-2
Pied-billed Grebe-1
David Patick,
Huntington,WV 25701
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Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:17:26 -0500
From: Herb & Sarah Myers <hesemyers@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: FeederWatch
I am doing a Project FeederWatch count today. There are a number of changes
we have noticed recently.
Last year we had Eastern Towhees all winter under our feeders. We have not
seen or heard any for a number of weeks. We miss them.
The Pine Siskins seem to have moved elsewhere and the American Goldfinches
have replaced them as our most numerous feeder bird.
Yesterday we had three woodpecker species: Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied. The
other birds keep their distance from the Red-bellied Woodpecker when she
arrives.
The female Northern Cardinal gets our vote as our most beautiful feeder bird
at this time. Her male partner may become the most stand-out bird if the
snow comes tonight.
Blue Jays are our feeder pigs. I like to chase them away but then I think
that does not give a fair feeder count if I interfere.
Our only sparrow just now is the White-throated Sparrow. We are waiting for
our first Fox Sparrow of the season.
Purple Finches keep coming but in lesser numbers. Some of the males are
quite striking.
It is still fun just watching our feathered friends. Fortunately, we have
not noticed any sick birds but it is time to scrub our feeders. Have a good
and safe holiday weekend. Herb Myers, Harman, Randolph County
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:11:51 -0800
From: Gary Felton <wvfauna@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: WW Crossbill & swans
I was in somewhat of a hurry this morning and had no intentions of stopping
by the pond,
which adjoins the Arthurdale Elementary School property, but two large white
objects
caught my eye. Just after I saw them, I saw a birder, who turned out to be
David Daniels,
scoping the pond. The white objects were Tundra Swans. In addition to the
swans,
I made out a coot, Hooded Merganser and Great Blue Heron with bins. There
were some ducks
on the far shore, but I couldn't make a positive ID with bins. David
mentioned they were American
Wigeons and Gadwall. I did a quick scan through the Canada Geese, but saw
no Richardson's.
This morning a White-winged Crossbill was calling from the top of one of the
Spruce Trees
in the yard. I was late getting the feeders out, so I may have missed a
chance at having
WW crossbills at the feeders.
Kingwood
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End of WV-BIRD Digest - 22 Nov 2012 to 23 Nov 2012 (#2012-317)
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