~Wildlife education~
Keeping bird feeders and bird baths clean is key to preventing and spreading diseases such as salmonella, trichomoniasis, aspergillosis, and avian pox among our feathered friends.
This poor little guy is obviously sick.
Once a month, take down your bird feeders and soak them in a 10% bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and dry the feeders before refilling them. Discard old seed and remove seed from the ground.
If you also treat our feathered friends to a birdbath, please keep it fresh by rinsing and scrubbing it with nine parts water, one part vinegar. And refill the water regularly to keep it from bugging up. Consider adding a solar-powered fountain for circulating water to discourage mosquitos from laying their eggs.
Some diseases can be spread to humans, so protect yourself by wearing gloves while doing the cleaning.
Heated birdbaths that are designed to keep the water from freezing are available so you can continue giving birds access to water in the colder months.
If you see a bird with illness symptoms such as a lack of energy or movement, tremors, lack of coordination; swelling around the head, neck, and/or eyes, call NIWRA or your local wildlife rehabilitation centre for advice.
You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA and further our public education programs by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!
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