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Purple finches have become completely silent in my area after singing their heads off most of June and July = end of nesting or.............?? Any chance the sick birds presently being seen are a progression of the March outbreak outlined below?? At the time they were reported to be moving in our direction.... March 10, 2008 Hi All, I just want to make you aware that over the last two weeks the Wildlife Information Line has received several reports of dead Common Redpolls, American Goldfinches, and, as of today, Evening Grosbeaks. I spoke with Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton and they are also receiving calls. In western Massachusetts dead birds have been reported in Northampton, Goshen, Florence, and Chesterfield and in Wilmington and North Billerica in the east. Tests on redpoll carcasses in New York State have confirmed that the birds died of salmonella poisoning, and Tufts believes that salmonella is also affecting the birds here in Massachusetts. Salmonellosis, the most common disease of feeder birds, is caused by bacteria from the genus /Salmonella/ and often begins as an intestinal-tract infection. Symptoms such as diarrhea, ruffled feathers, and lethargy usually occur. The disease can spread rapidly at crowded feeding stations as healthy birds eat food contaminated by the droppings of sick birds. /Salmonella/ can be transmitted to people who handle sick or dead birds; always wear disposable gloves when handling infected birds. Callers who report sick or dead birds, in or near a feeder, should wear disposable gloves and take down their feeders. It would be wise to encourage neighbors to do the same. Feeders should be soaked for several hours in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and thoroughly rinsed and dried. Feeders should never be cleaned in an area where food preparation takes place. Wildlife experts believe that, if two weeks pass without further sightings of sick or dead birds, the feeders can be replaced. Tufts Wildlife Clinic will take sick birds for treatment and they are interested in reports of dead birds found near feeders. They can be contacted at: 508-839-7918.
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