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For those who use backyard feeders to photograph birds
Jul 19, 2021 13:24:48   #
tomad Loc: North Carolina
 
First of all this is just fyi for those who care. Please don't think I am telling you to stop feeding birds. I just thought everyone should read this so they can at least make an informed decision as to whether it's a good idea at the moment. Simply a public service announcement.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-illness-prompts-wildlife-agencies-080300246.html

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Jul 19, 2021 13:40:30   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Search Bird Feeder Illness to see if your area is involved. East Coast & some Midwest.

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Jul 19, 2021 14:04:30   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
Although I take pictures of birds, I don't see this as a photography issue. This should have been posted in "Links and Resources". It will most likely be moved there.

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Jul 19, 2021 14:57:05   #
DaveO Loc: Northeast CT
 
Bill_de wrote:
Although I take pictures of birds, I don't see this as a photography issue. This should have been posted in "Links and Resources". It will most likely be moved there.

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Jul 19, 2021 15:50:22   #
LolaPL Loc: Richardson, Texas
 
Thanks for this info. Another concern is that by having birdseed scattered on the ground, rats can be attracted to your yard!! No thanks!

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Jul 20, 2021 09:24:15   #
JimBart Loc: Western Michigan
 
Never had rats but a lot of chipmunks, mice, squirrels, and a whole lot of deer.

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Jul 20, 2021 11:11:47   #
Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.
 
tomad wrote:
First of all this is just fyi for those who care. Please don't think I am telling you to stop feeding birds. I just thought everyone should read this so they can at least make an informed decision as to whether it's a good idea at the moment. Simply a public service announcement.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mysterious-illness-prompts-wildlife-agencies-080300246.html


I'm in N.C.
We had it here earlier this year, took feeders down for 2 weeks, gave the feeders an extra good cleaning, have put them back up and have not had any issues here since.


Tom

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Jul 20, 2021 14:22:18   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
Tom DePuy wrote:
I'm in N.C.
We had it here earlier this year, took feeders down for 2 weeks, gave the feeders an extra good cleaning, have put them back up and have not had any issues here since.


Tom


I give the feeders a good cleaning at least once a month but try for twice. I also stop filling the feeders once in a while so they aren't to dependent on them.

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Jul 20, 2021 15:55:02   #
rusbowden Loc: Lowell MA
 
Hi Bill,

I see it as a photography issue. Bird feeders have resulted in many well-published and award-winning photos. It takes a photographer's tool out of your bag.

Rus

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Jul 20, 2021 19:05:43   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
rusbowden wrote:
Hi Bill,

Bird feeders have resulted in many well-published and award-winning photos.

Rus


So have cars and flowers and just about anything we lay our eyes on.

Should we discuss fertilizer because it helps flowers grow?

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Jul 21, 2021 00:43:35   #
Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
I can voutch for that, not only illness but if the bird feeder is close to the house, you will soon have mice in your house. Mice love bird food when it falls to the ground from the feeder's. And you'll be surprised the tiny cracks mice can craw through to get into your house.

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Jul 21, 2021 07:05:31   #
rusbowden Loc: Lowell MA
 
Bill_de wrote:
So have cars and flowers and just about anything we lay our eyes on.

Should we discuss fertilizer because it helps flowers grow?

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That’s funny. Fertilizer lures flowers like bird feed lures birds. I’ll start carrying fertilizer in my bag now, just a matter of being a little more patient with plants than wildlife.

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Jul 21, 2021 12:00:47   #
cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD
 
Ched49 wrote:
I can voutch for that, not only illness but if the bird feeder is close to the house, you will soon have mice in your house. Mice love bird food when it falls to the ground from the feeder's. And you'll be surprised the tiny cracks mice can craw through to get into your house.


Can you be a bit more specific about how "close to the house?" And, do you know if mice are attracted by sunflower seeds in addition to the smaller millet seeds and so on?

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Jul 21, 2021 12:36:12   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
cbtsam wrote:
Can you be a bit more specific about how "close to the house?" And, do you know if mice are attracted by sunflower seeds in addition to the smaller millet seeds and so on?


Mice love sunflower seeds.

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Jul 21, 2021 22:46:08   #
Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
Bill_de wrote:
Mice love sunflower seeds.

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The bird feeder was 20 feet from the house and no matter how hard you try, you can't keep seeds from falling on the ground while birds are eating. Next thing i knew i seen is little field mice scurring around the house.

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