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To Feed or Not To Feed?

Fall and Winter Bird Feeder Guidance

Many of us like to give wildlife a helping hand by providing bird feeders over the cold fall and winter months. With various avian diseases spreading during these months, it is important to be mindful about offering food in a safe way. Ultimately, the goal is to do what is best for wildlife!

Wildlife Rescue notices an increase in birds presenting with contagious avian diseases, such as salmonella and conjunctivitis, during the colder months. Diseases can easily spread among birds sharing feeders because feeders attract large numbers of birds to one location.

We can’t tell a sick bird not to come to the buffet, so sometimes it’s best just to postpone the dinner party before anyone else gets sick.

If you notice sick birds in your backyard, we recommend cleaning your feeders and putting them away for at least 3-4 weeks and until sick birds are no longer present in your backyard. This way you can help minimize the spread of avian diseases.

Here are a few symptoms to look out for:

• They look puffed up and sleepy (they may sleep on the feeder)
• Not alert or not moving very much
• Inactive and have seeds all over their beak
• Swollen or abnormal looking eyes
• Seeking heat up against a building

If you are choosing to offer a feeder, we recommend taking the following steps to help keep wildlife safe:

• Remove all seeds from the ground daily.
• Please clean your feeder at least every two weeks by washing it with hot soapy water.
• Then, rinse the feeder thoroughly and disinfect using a solution of one part household bleach and nine parts water.
• Ensure that the feeder is thoroughly rinsed and fully dried after disinfection before refilling with fresh food.

Please note hummingbird feeders have a different set of recommendations.

 

Other ways to support wildlife

Including native plants in backyard gardens is another effective way to provide food and shelter to wild birds over the fall and winter months. You will attract more wildlife visitors to your yard without needing to maintain a feeder.

These are some native species you can plant in BC:

• White Fawn Lily
• Salmonberry
• Oso berry
• Red-Flowering Currant
• Native Columbines
• Lupines
• Pacific Bleeding Heart

Have you seen birds showing signs of disease, or do you have any questions? Reach out to our Support Centre for support and guidance here.

Thank you for looking out for your local wildlife!

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Posted in Education, Resources
Tags: bird feeder, bird feeders, conservation wildlife, local wildlife, native plants, protect your local wildlife, protect your wildlife, save your local wildlife, support your local wildlife, wildlife safe