Did you know that large groups of finches may pose a health problem for these birds? This past winter has brought the biggest irruption of northern finches in recent history. This year has seen huge movements of these birds southward, and many have reached astonishing places far from where you’d expect to find them.
Finch researchers are calling this year a “superflight,” where every species of boreal finch is irrupting, or moving southward in search of food. A perfect storm of feast and famine appears to be driving this banner finch year, affecting Common and Hoary Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Red and White-winged Crossbills, and Purple Finches.
But there is a downside: Pine Siskins at your feeder may create a super-spreader event for these birds. The spread of Salmonella can prove fatal to your feeder visitors. The best practice might be to remove bird feeders through the end of March. If you choose to continue wild bird feeding they encourage cleaning feeders daily by first rinsing the feeder well with warm soapy water, then dunking in a solution of nine parts water and one part bleach.
Learn more about the finch “superflight” |
