1:05 Eugene bird experts say it's not necessary to remove your bird feeders to prevent spread of salmonella. But a good cleaning will help. KLCC's Rachael McDonald has the story.
Dan Gleason taught Field Ornithology at the University of Oregon for 30 years. He and his wife Barbara own Wild Birds Unlimited in Eugene. Gleason says salmonella infection is not unusual in pine siskins, a type of finch. The illness can spread through bird droppings, and some experts have advised removing feeders. Gleason said it would only be a good idea to remove the feeder if you see sick birds. “What’s more important, I think, is that you have a very clean, safe feeding situation,”Gleason said. “And that means that when you start to see these kinds of outbreaks, you’ll need to keep your feeders much cleaner, more often than at normal times.”'