SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A migratory
bird in the finch family is a cause for concern for backyard bird watchers in
West Virginia.
Called pine siskins, the bird is flocking in
large numbers in the state, meaning they could transmit salmonellosis to other
species. The last time such an unusually large migration occurred, bird kills
were reported throughout West Virginia from salmonellosis.
An unusually high migration of a species is
called an "irruption."
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources'
wildlife section advises that backyard feeders be cleaned every two weeks and
rinsed with a 10 percent bleach solution. The feeder should be thoroughly dried
before refilling.
The cleaning is especially recommended for
feeders containing thistle seed, a food favored by pine siskins
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