Birders beware: Avian flu still a threat in the Bay Area

"But that doesn't mean you can't feed wild birds or have bird baths. It just means you need to be scrupulous in maintaining them. Birdfeeders should be cleaned weekly, and removed if you start seeing sick or dying birds in your yard. Bird baths need daily maintenance. Empty the bird baths and wash them with a diluted solution of vinegar and water, and dry before refilling."

"As we approach winter and the start of the rainy season, bird baths become less important to our feathered friends. They can more readily find natural water sources. Food, however, becomes more scarce in winter, which means birdfeeders play an important role in supplementing a bird's diet. Be sure to keep the feeders clean, and check them often during the rainy season to make sure the seed remains dry. Wet or damp bird seed can quickly mold, which can cause illnesses in birds."

H5N1 avian flu spiked with waterfowl migration, prompting renewed caution around wild birds and backyard feeders and baths. Feeding birds and maintaining bird baths remain permissible with scrupulous hygiene. Birdfeeders should be cleaned weekly and removed if sick or dead birds appear. Bird baths require daily maintenance: empty, wash with diluted vinegar and water, dry, and refill—ideally emptying in the evening and washing before refilling in the morning. In winter and the rainy season, birds find natural water more easily, but food becomes scarcer, so clean, dry feeders are important to prevent mold-related illnesses.

Read at The Mercury News