April 1, 2021 — With Pine Siskins migrating back home to the boreal forests of Canada and a dramatic reduction in the number of suspected salmonella cases, we believe it is safe to hang up bird feeders and fill up your bird baths.
However, if you see any sick Pine Siskins or other ill songbirds, we ask that you please take your feeders down for three weeks before hanging them back up. Signs of sickness include ruffled feathers, diarrhea and lethargy. If you see sick birds, call our hospital hotline at (925) 659-8156 for further help and please bring them to the hospital as soon as possible.
Please also remember to thoroughly wash and disinfect all bird feeders and baths with a solution of 4 oz (1/2 cup) bleach to 1 gallon water and soak for 10 minutes before rinsing throughly. Bird feeders must be kept clean and washed thoroughly each week.
We are so very grateful for your efforts to help our feathered neighbors and curb the salmonella outbreak. Thank you for helping wildlife!