Wild bird feeders are a very popular backyard fixture in America. Everyone from the dedicated bird watcher to the casual gardener enjoys filling their bird feeders and watching the local birds who frequent it. It is these same bird feeders, however, that often puts the wild bird population in jeopardy.
Many people are unaware that a wild bird feeder, like any other food container, must be washed and disinfected regularly in order to stop the spread of disease, infection and parasites from one bird to another. Without regular cleaning of a bird feeder and the surrounding area, it is very easy for one or two sick birds to contaminate a large population in a short amount of time. There are several steps that at bird watcher should take to prevent their bird feeders from spreading disease, like inspected their seed, cleaning the area where the bird feeder is kept and washing their feeder.
Start With the Bird Seed
Some infections that wild birds encounter can be prevented from the start. It is very important to monitor the condition of wild bird seed as it is being stored. A bird feeder should never be filled with seed that has been exposed to rodents, as their droppings can transmit parasites and disease. Bird seed should also be kept dry. Damp bird seed can begin to grow mold, which can cause a wild bird to develop respiratory issues.
Clean Up Spilled Bird Seed
When birds use a wild bird feeder, they often dedicate on the ground around the feeder. If another bird comes along and feeds on seeds that have fallen to the ground and have been exposed to other bird's waste, disease can easily spread.
Clean the Bird Feeder
Just like any communal device, a bird feeder should be washed and disinfected regularly. Feeders should ideally be cleaned one per week and disinfected once per month. However, in the event that there is a dead bird found in the area, with no signs of outside trauma, bird feeders should be disinfected at least weekly but preferably daily. Disinfecting can be done with a bleach and water solution of 10 percent bleach and 90 percent warm water.
When a person decides to hang a bird feeder in his or her yard, he is taking on a responsibility to the birds and other wild animals that might frequent that feeder. If cleaning and maintaining a bird feeder on a weekly and monthly basis is too much, the responsible thing to do is to take the feeder down, or just stop filling it with seeds.
Janine Logue - Logue is a freelance writer with several years experience in the newspaper industry as both a reporter and editor.
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