Lots of us feed birds in the United States.  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service did a feeder survey two years ago. Their conclusion: 50 million of us feed birds. Yet I just read that the New Jersey legislature is considering a statewide feeder ban. Why? To protect wild animals from the sprea d of deadly, contagious diseases. Dirty and infected feeders can kill their customers. A total ban seemed surprising. As I read one media account of the potential law, I was more surprised to read, “The proposed ban, inspired by real-world precedents like temporary feeder restrictions in states such as Oregon during a 2022 salmonellosis outbreak, would aim to safeguard New Jersey’s 700+ bird species, including spring migrants like the Eastern Bluebird and Baltimore Oriole.” Some research shows there was a feeder ban here in Oregon.  It was an ordinance, passed in October 2022 in Bandon, a birdy coastal town I love to visit. You can read that ordinance here: https://www.bandon-or.gov/media/15451 Oh, by the way, Bandon did NOT ban feeding songbirds.  For a coastal town there was understandable concern about feeding gulls and mammals.   Maybe New Jersey will pay attention if Oregonians get good at safe bird feeding. Grain and seed feeders need bi-weekly cleaning and scrubbing after soaking in diluted bleach. Better than mere soap and water. Safer than flammable alcohol. Suet feeders are more difficult to clean.  Dense fat coats the surfaces. According to Cornell Ornithology, wash them with hot, soapy water first.  Then soak the suet feeder in diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) for 5-10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before refilling. Hummingbird nectar (sugar water) feeders need frequent cleaning.  Again, Cornell Ornithology Lab recommends using diluted bleach.  They must be thoroughly dry before re-use. A wide variety of local birds will use your feeders, depending on the habitat around you. Even crows occasionally, but mostly smaller birds: jays, sparrows, finches (including the dozens of siskins that may descend into your part of the valley every fall), warblers, nuthatches, kinglets, bushtits. There are local birds that rarely use a feeder: robins, for example. And any hawk. Woodpeckers generally go for suet feeders only, but suet is also popular with bushtits, nuthatches, jays, warblers, even an occasional junco.  If you live near orioles, they will go for a slice of orange at least three feet off the ground. Speaking of ground—sparrows, quail and even some finches will feed happily on your drive or a cement patio.  Reminder: that could attract wild turkeys, and ODFW asks you to avoid feeding them. Squirrels gather at feeders. Trying to prevent those agile acrobats from getting the goods is always a mental challenge for big, ground-dwelling mammals like us. Vertical or horizontal in approach squirrels can jump several feet to a hanging feeder. Keep feeders clean. For information about upcoming Salem Audubon programs and activities, see www.salemaudubon.org, or Salem Audubon’s Facebook page. Harry Fuller is an Oregon birder and natural history author of “Freeway Birding” and the newly-published “Birding Harney County.” He is a member of the Salem Audubon Society. Contact him at atowhee@gmail.com or atowhee.blog. His “Some Fascinating Things About Birds” column appears regularly in Salem Reporter. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post COLUMN: Keep feeders clean so birds stay healthy appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less