Pine Siskins are extremely susceptible to Salmonella and this is most
likely the cause (symptoms are right).  I hear about this every time
there is an eruption of them.  I had just as of the other day 40 +
pine siskins at the feeders.  So many of them feeding in close
proximity causes this.  I have had this happen before, including just
yesterday.  I wash my feeders out about every day, but there are just
too many birds to keep up with.  I currently have my Nyjer feeding
station shut down.  I suggest washing/disinfecting feeders and
birdbaths out daily.  Or just take the Nyjer feeders down and let the
siskins thin out.

Donald Morse Jr
New Richmond, OH
http://donaldthebirder.blogspot.com/

On Tue, Feb 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM, Dorothy Dawson-sheldon
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Greetings,
> This morning it was warm enough to walk the perimeter of the property
> as I fed the birds. We have downy, hairy, red bellied and pileated
> woodpeckers pounding on dead trees and at the feeders.
>
> I've also had an abundance of pine siskins at my feeders here in
> Wakeman, Lorain County all winter. While they all appear to be in
> excellent health,  a fellow birder who lives in North Carolina is
> reporting sick pine siskins showing up at feeders. I wonder if there
> is any evidence of a problem here in Ohio ? Here is her inquiry and
> symptoms reported:
>
> "'I've had several e-mails from the carolina bird list about sick
> pine siskins. Here are the symptoms: puffy, and lethargic. I have
> seen one at my feeder with the same symptoms. You can practically
> walk right up to them and it won't move. With all the posts it seems
> to be wide spread in the carolinas. It isn't affecting goldfinches or
> purple finches, just pine siskins. Just wondering if you are seeing
> any of these signs out your way as well?"
>
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