Winter is a ‘critical time’ to fill your Kansas bird feeder. But don’t miss this step
Bird-watching may seem like a spring and summer hobby for many, but birds are also out and about in the wintertime, too.
In fact, bird feeders become crucial for some species in the wintertime, as it’s harder to locate food resources during the colder months. So if you took down your feeder as the weather turned, you might want to rethink that decision.
According to Shane Hesting, the wildlife disease coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, bird feeders can provide crucial resources, but can also help the spread of disease. While cold weather can prevent some disease from spreading as rapidly, it’s still a risk you should work to prevent.
“Anytime of the year is a concern when you’re feeding birds, and spring and summer would be times when maybe you don’t need to feed birds as much because there’s food out there for them. Wintertime is more of a critical time,” Hesting said.
Some diseases common in Kansas birds include:
Salmonellosis, caused by salmonella bacteria, is commonly spread through droppings and saliva when birds gather. The first signs a bird has the virus is if it seems lethargic and easy to approach. Fluffing out its feathers is another indicator, but birds can also be asymptomatic.
- Mycoplasma is another bacteria that causes disease in birds. Symptoms of this infection includes a runny nose, cough and abnormal breathing. Other signs include swollen eyelids or a puffy face. It can take up to three weeks for birds to start showing symptoms.
- Avian pox is a pox virus identified in more than 200 species of birds. Severe infections can cause large growths on the bird that can affect vision, breathing and feeding.
Trichomonas is a disease caused by a parasite. Birds with this disease can get inflammation around the mouth and ulcers in the mouth that become masses. These birds have trouble breathing.
Hesting said out of all of these, the one he gets the most calls about is probably mycoplasma.
“I get called about [that] the most, and it’s usually house finches,” Hesting said. “We also get a lot of sick birds not acting right, and that could be salmonella.”
The only way to be sure what a bird is infected with is to send it to a lab. The state has a contract with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Georgia, which looks at anything the state sends in.
Tips for keeping your bird feeder clean
Hesting recommends using a 10% bleach solution to clean bird feeders. If they’re seed feeders, they should be cleaned once every two weeks.
If you’re feeding hummingbirds in the summertime, Hesting said those feeders should be cleaned every seven to 10 days, as the liquid is more likely to grow harmful bacteria.
When cleaning bird feeders it’s important to wear gloves to protect yourself, as well. While a lot of diseases can’t pass from birds to humans, some, like salmonella, can be harmful to both. Be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling bird feeders.
Be sure to also clean your bird bath, especially in the summertime.
During winter, the U.S. Humane Society recommends filling feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, white proso millet and suet cakes. If you keep your feeders full in Wichita this winter, you could see species like the Harris’s sparrow, blue jay and goldfinch.
Additionally, you should be mindful of where you are placing bird feeders. You should make sure they are far apart from each other if you have multiple, and keep them as far away from windows as you can.
One thing that kills birds more than disease is flying into windows, Hesting noted.
“The window reflects the outside environment,” Hesting said, “and the bird can’t see it. It thinks it’s flying into open sky.”
The wildlife coordinator estimates window strikes kill millions of birds each year.
You should also not place feeders near weeded areas or tree lines, as predators to birds could be hiding in those spots.
This story was originally published January 2, 2024 at 7:30 AM.
