Save a bird, clean your feeder

Travis Audubon has put out an alert that salmonellosis has made its way to Texas, threatening to infect birds in the area. Particularly at risk are pine siskins, which have appeared in Central Texas in unusual numbers and are particularly vulnerable to the disease. To combat its spread, keep an eye out for birds that appear to be sick, and if you suspect your backyard birds might be infected, take down your feeders and water features and leave them down until the pine siskins have moved on – a few weeks. Travis Audubon goes on to explain that, even if there is no outbreak, bird feeders should be cleaned and disinfected once or twice monthly at a minimum, ideally weekly, to prevent disease spreading among our feathered friends.