This is some kind of die off, and there could be a number of reasons: disease (like salmonella) or toxicity (poisoned seed). I am sure her seed is not killing them, but if it is bacterial, it could be spread by sharing feeders.

They just killed off thousands of starlings in NJ with poisoned seed. It is not impossible for other birds to also share the poison. Maybe that is happening by you?

She should carefully preserve some of the fresh bodies and get them to Fish & Wildlife. They would want to know, because other animals could be dying.

Bonnie, I have had Salmonella strike twice. Each time it took out mainly Gold Fincehs but also some Redpolls and Pine Siskins. I have gotten some to a rehabber, tried to help the rehabber and treat some at home.....nothing works, they all die. If her birds are looking "puffy", hang out near the birdbath, seem slow to leave when approached, bob their heads or huddle on the ground near the house that's probably what is going on. She would do best to take the feeders down for a while. It seems to take about a month to run it's course. It's very sad. On very cold or snowy days she coud toss some seed around (not in one big pile) to help out the other birds. Cleaning the birdbath daily at least is a MUST with this. One pile of poo can infect a number of birds.

This is interesting yet sad. I recently read on another birding board of 3 other people having this same problem with goldfinches and pine siskins. 2 of them live in TN one in Eastern TN the other in Sevierville,TN. The 3rd lives in Western NC near Ashville.

Do any of you live in these areas? Thanks lisa for listing the symptoms. I will past that information on.

So sorry this is/has happened to you all.

Jean
NW GA

greenjean7bga, I am in the northern part of GA. Not up the Appalachian region by TN, but Piedmont.

Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis is very common among finches. Ask your friend if she has noticed some with swollen eye lids. I had one here last year and the poor thing was flying blind. It disappered before I could catch it and take it to a rehabber. I took down all my feeders and bleached the daylights out of them. However they do still pass it to each other even without feeders up.

laylaa, I live between Cartersville and Rome. Do you live near or in this area?

I have been covered up with American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. All have been healthy so far. Since you keep your feeders clean, the Salmonella must have started at one of your neighbors who isn't cleaning their feeders or raking under them. Have you thought of printing up flyers askings everyone to stop feeding and include instructions on how to clean the feeders and how often? Someone or more may not know any better. If there is a Birding Club near you they may help you with this.

Jean
NW GA

Jean, I am in Dawsonville. I have posted to my neighborhood news, told the local bird supply store which I am sure thrills them no end and not something they want to advertise, told my HOA board. I was sort of peeved because they made a joke of it and wondered if the birds had "gotten into some of those bad peanuts". Not funny. I have found a lot of dead birds as I am in the woods often and know where they roost. In one spot where the juncos roost there were dead juncos all over the ground. I have 4 juncos out of a zillion left, 2 siskens and 1 goldfinch.

I tried to tell the neighborhood as nicely as possible to keep an eye on personal pets, it's contagious, children should not pick up dead birds, and gee, we should have major bug issues this summer if our insect eating permanent resident birds get killed. They are nice people but they just don't get that everything ties together. It's a non-issue to them and I am just the crazy wildlife lady who gets a pat on the head. I'm actually fairly middle class normal. I don't know what else to do.

I'm not even some ecology wildlife fanatic, just a woman who grew up in deep woods. I guess it's part of my upbringing to be aware of nature and I just don't understand the blase attitude. Then they open the door and let their cat out.

I don't mean to rant, it's just sad to me.

Hi laylaa,

Dawsonville isn't all that far from me. You have done much to try and educate everyone. Hats off to you! Like you I grew up in a rural area and live in one now and have a deep love for our native birds and wildlife. What you are reporting saddens me greatly. I would be 'ranting' also.

I am a Moderator on another bird forum and did some reserch on Salmonella last night after work. I would like to share the very informative article I found by Rosemary Drisdelle. Type in Salmonnella Infection in Birds after you get to this site and click on the first article listed.I learned much from the article and hope others will also.

Jean
NW GA

Here is a link that might be useful: Suite101

I am so thankful that I found this. I live in Northeast Tn and have been having problems with my goldfinches dying. I kept thinking it had to be the seed I had recently bought since I have never had this problem. The birds have the same sypmtoms that were listed above. Now I know what I need to do so that I don't lose anymore of these beautiful birds. Can anyone tell me who and how to contact someone about this? I think more people should be aware of this problem. Thanks again for all this information.

I don't know how much "educating" I have been doing, but I tried. Thank you for the link, Jean. Information is always the key. I live with a chemist, poor man, and keep grilling him about bacteria life, how long it can live outside the host (so to speak), what it lives in, does the rain help? I think he'd divorce me if we were married I am driving him so nuts with questions.

All I can advise is to take bird feeders down. I had a hard time doing this, I kept rationalizing that just this one tube feeder was okay, but finally decided I was being selfish and doing harm. That's not right.

I live in West Chester,Pa.a nd have only seen 4 goldfinches at my feeders this entire summer where Iam used to seeing 40 or more regularly.My neighbor who lives a quarter mile away has only seen three finches allsummer What has happened?

Glad t know of another reason why my birds might be missing, in addition to the lovely indoor/outdoor cats. I'll take down my feeders today. I'm in SE Michigan, west (far west, thank you) of Detroit. I'll try to tell myself there are no such things as Cardinals and

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.