While bird feeders are a common sight in backyards this time of the year, the Wildlife Support Centre is urging people to take them down.
The centre, based in Burnaby, says it's had 78 Pine Siskins birds brought in from across the Metro Vancouver region with symptoms of salmonellosis, an infection caused by a member of the Salmonella bacteria family.
"The disease can spread because of its congregating behaviour in backyard feeders during the winter,” states the organization in a news release. “Once a bird is infected, mortality rates rapidly increase among all birds who contact the feeder. Distressed birds must be handled safely and with care to prevent the spread through animals and humans.”
The best way for people to prevent the spread is to completely remove their bird feeders for the winter.
If a pet comes across a potentially infected or dead bird, monitor them for signs of infection, including diarrhea or lethargy.
In Delta, one resident has found Pine Siskins dead under trees in her yard. Jennifer Keskula has had birds fly into her windows before (and has set up stickers so they stop) but has found six Pine Siskins over the past couple of months dead in areas away from the windows.
“When I find a bird dead further from the windows I started to ask myself why?” she says.
She echoes the centre's suggestion. Currently, she only has a hummingbird feeder up, which she cleans regularly with a weak bleach solution (which is also recommended by the centre).
Anyone who comes across a sick or infected bird can call the Wild Rescue Support Centre at 604-526-7275.
— With files from Chris Campbell at the Burnaby Now, Mark Booth at the Delta Optimist and the Tri-City News
