Bird lovers have work ahead of them

The latest carcass count indicates that North Idaho residents are loving songbirds to death.

Unusually high numbers of dead songbirds have been reported recently in Coeur d’Alene area yards, the Idaho Fish and Game Department said.

“There doesn’t appear to be any single particular species affected more than another species,” said Phil Cooper, department spokesman.

Although the department doesn’t have the staff or money to do a detailed analysis, he cited a 1992 study by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology for possible causes. The study found that:

•Collisions with windows accounted for 51 percent of backyard bird deaths.

•Predation, predominately by house cats, accounted for 36 percent of backyard bird deaths.

•Disease caused 11 percent of backyard bird mortalities in the study.

However, the deaths by disease can soar in local areas when conditions are ripe for outbreaks.

In recent years, the National Wildlife Health Center of the U.S. Geological Survey has reported unprecedented songbird mortality events. Backyard feeding stations are playing a significant role, according to a center report cited by Cooper.

“Disease is likely the cause of the recent local increase,” Cooper said. “Recent weather factors including temperature patterns and high precipitation (and humidity) have provided excellent growing conditions for molds and bacteria in our area.”

Major outbreaks in California and Nevada have prompted wildlife biologists to dish out a remedy in the form of a bitter pill, not to the birds, but rather to the birdwatchers.

“Nevada biologists believe backyard feeding is not necessary and not worth the disease risks,” Cooper said, noting surveys that recently found significant bird mortalities at Nevada feeders.

“No such recommendation has been made in Idaho, yet. If bird feeders and baths are cleaned regularly, the spread of both avian salmonella and avian trichomona can be greatly reduced.”

Most of the literature suggests cleaning feeders at least once a month. However, with the recent conditions and apparent recent outbreak of disease in songbirds, IDFG is recommending that bird feeders be cleaned once a week for the time being.

First, Cooper said, remove all feed. Rinse the feeder inside and out with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water. Do not use vinegar instead of bleach, as vinegar does not destroy bacteria, mold or yeast, Cooper said.

Allow the solution to work on the feeder for 10 minutes. Then scrub the feeder with a stiff brush. Rinse thoroughly with additional 10 percent bleach-to-water solution. Then rinse well with water. Allow the feeder to dry completely (very important, Cooper said) before reassembling and filling.

Even with clean feeders, the problems of mold and bacteria linger in the seed that has fallen on the ground.

IDFG recommends moving feeders each time you clean them if possible.

If your feeders are on permanent structures, rake, shovel or sweep seed waste and bird droppings from the ground under the feeder and discard in your household trash.

Birdbaths should be emptied and refilled every day as they can provide habitat for protozoa that can be harmful to birds, not to mention breeding areas for mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus.

Every two weeks, scrub birdbaths clean with dish detergent, and then rinse with a 10 percent bleach-water solution. Rinse well with plain water and allow it to dry before refilling, Cooper advised.

Who said love was easy?

Ticks galore: I’ve been picking ticks off my Brittany and setter since March, but one area hiker found the mother lode this week on the Spokane County Slavin Conservation area just off Highway 195.

After hiking a 3-mile trail recently improved by the Spokane Mountaineers and Backcountry Horsemen, the hiker discovered five ticks on her legs and clothing. But the real fun came with an evening tick-plucking session that netted more than 200 ticks from her golden retriever.

Buy now and save: Idaho’s hunting and fishing license fees will increase on July 1, with significant jumps in certain categories, such as licenses for seniors.

Resident adult hunting licenses will go from $11.50 to $12.75, and adult fishing licenses for residents go from $23.50 to $25.75. Resident combo licenses will go from $30.50 to $33.50.

However, the price for a senior combo license will go from $4.50 to $11.75, indicating that the Idaho Legislature believes seniors ought to pay a little more for all that free time they have to harvest game.