Clean your feeders…

31 January 2026

Good Evening Everyone,

We are in the midst of a snow storm. I was reminded today that there is something really important – after a storm – whether it be rain or snow – you MUST clean our your bird feeders completely! Why?

It takes very little time for the birdseed to get mouldy. Less than 48 hours in some instances.

Birds get a fungal infection called Aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is a serious, often fatal fungal infection in birds, primarily caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. It affects the respiratory tract (lungs/air sacs) by inhaling spores from mouldy, damp environments. It commonly impacts stressed, captive, or wild birds, causing chronic breathing difficulties, weight loss, and, if severe, rapid death.

The fungus thrives in warm, moist, decomposing organic matter, such as wet bedding (especially corn cob or wood shavings), moldy grain, or improper, poorly ventilated housing. It does not typically pass from bird to bird.

Mr Crow thanks you and reminds you that to adequately clean the feeders you should use a dilute wash of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Soak the feeders for 10 minutes. We have an old wash tub that we use for this very purpose but it also needs regular cleaning to stop disease from spreading.

Thanks so much for being with us. Take care and please enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Oh, and please also go to the Kakapo cam. There were three fertile eggs. The rangers have left one fertile one and removed two to incubators for other females who might not have a check. It is a new cam and the kakapo need all the support we can give them – their population is struggling.