• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar

New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

  • Email
  • RSS
  • Adirondacks & NNY
  • Capital-Saratoga
  • Mohawk Valley
  • Hudson Valley & Catskills
  • NYC & Long Island
  • Western NY
  • History
  • Nature & Environment
  • Arts & Culture
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Food & Farms
  • Subscribe
  • Support
  • Submit
  • About
  • New Books
  • Events
  • Podcasts

Spring Chores: Sanitize Your Bird Feeder

May 13, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

bird feeder courtesy of K. HillDEC recommends cleaning your bird feeders at this time of year.

Two diseases are commonly spread at bird feeders are Salmonellosis, which affects common redpolls, pine siskins, and other songbirds; and, Finch conjunctivitis which primarily infects house finches and American goldfinches.

Other diseases potentially spread at feeders include Aspergillosis (sometimes associated with moldy seed) or Trichomoniasis (a protozoan parasite spread at bird baths). Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is not thought to be related to bird feeding or songbirds.

Clean bird feeders with a warm, soapy solution and brush to remove solid particles, then sanitize for 10 minutes with a 10% bleach solution (1 part household bleach, 9 parts water). During the winter, clean feeders every two weeks and allow the feeder to dry thoroughly before re-filling it with feed.

Note: Although we did not see any cases of the mysterious songbird eye disease in NY last year, DEC will be monitoring birds this spring and summer. DEC encourages people to report any unusual mortalities in fledgling birds this season, especially American robins, blue jays, common grackles, and European starlings.

Photo of bird feeder courtesy of K. Hill.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed Under: Nature, Recreation Tagged With: birding, birds, nature, Spring, Wildlife

About Editorial Staff

Stories written under the Editorial Staff byline are drawn from press releases and other notices. Submit your news to New York Almanack here.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Help Support The Almanack

Subscribe to New York Almanack

Subscribe! Follow the New York Almanack each day via E-mail, RSS, Twitter or Facebook updates.

Recent Comments

  • Bob Meyer on Equal Justice for All *
  • Bonnie Schipisch on ATV Minimum Age Bill Passes Both Houses
  • Skip on First Adirondack Railroad Train of 2023 Leaving Tupper Lake
  • MaryAnn Contino on First Adirondack Railroad Train of 2023 Leaving Tupper Lake
  • FIY Local News-June 4 – Found in Yonkers on New York State 250th Commemoration Field Guide Released
  • Olivia Twine on Equal Justice for All *
  • Arlene Steinberg on Bird Rescues & Wildlife Rehabilitators
  • Roland J Dion on The Unpleasant Side of Life With Horses in Cities
  • Bob Meyer on Equal Justice for All *
  • Ed Zahniser on Poetry – ‘Wir Haben Wegener Gefunden Tod Im Eis’

Recent New York Books

Without Concealment, Without Compromise
Washington’s Marines
Major General Israel Putnam hero of the American Revolution
v is for victory
The Motorcycle Industry in New York State
Unfriendly to Liberty
weeds of the northeast
Putting Out the Planetary Fire: An Introduction to Climate Action and Advocacy
Seneca Ray Stoddard An Intimate Portrait of an Adirondack Legend
rebels at sea

Secondary Sidebar

Mohawk Valley Trading Company Honey, Honey Comb, Buckwheat Honey, Beeswax Candles, Maple Syrup, Maple Sugar
preservation league