{"id":16253,"date":"2021-08-24T13:26:23","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T17:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=16253"},"modified":"2021-09-12T22:40:32","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T02:40:32","slug":"safe-to-start-feeding-birds-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/safe-to-start-feeding-birds-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe to Start Feeding Birds Again!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wonderful news! Based on declining reports of the mysterious avian disease in states to our south and the absence of confirmed cases in Massachusetts, we are following the lead of our neighbors and recommending it is safe to resume feeding birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
\u00a9 Paul F. Silvestri<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Remember to Clean Those Feeders <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cause of this avian disease is still unknown, but we do know that contagious avian diseases can spread at feeders. To protect birds, stay in the habit of cleaning feeders every 2 weeks using a solution of one part bleach to nine parts warm water. Soak the feeder in the solution for a few minutes, rinse, and air dry. Visit our website<\/a> for more tips and FAQs on bird-feeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank You for Heeding the Call <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking in feeders and birdbaths was an important precaution to keep birds safe during a period of uncertainty. We understand that this was a difficult step to take, and we appreciate the help and patience of everyone who played it safe with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other threats to birds still persist<\/a>. While disease outbreaks aren\u2019t uncommon, population-level bird declines are driven by habitat loss, climate change, and mortality from building strikes and outdoor cats. Mass Audubon is working to reduce these threats to birds through habitat management, land conservation, advocacy, and education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help us in this work, please support Bird Conservation at Mass Audubon<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wonderful news! Based on declining reports of the mysterious avian disease in states to our south and the absence of confirmed cases in Massachusetts, we are following the lead of our neighbors and recommending it is safe to resume feeding birds. Remember to Clean Those Feeders  The cause of this avian disease is still unknown, but we do know that contagious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":16254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[386],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birds-birding"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/2303PaulFSilvestri8060-750x502-66b167a4-a951-42e6-affc-495ab426964a.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-4e9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15113,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/why-cleaning-bird-feeders-matters\/","url_meta":{"origin":16253,"position":0},"title":"Why Cleaning Bird Feeders Matters","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Enjoying watching birds visit your feeder? Great! Make sure the birds that visit stay healthy by keeping your feeder clean. Black-capped Chickadee at a Feeder Why a Clean Feeder is a Happy Feeder High concentrations of birds in close proximity to one another can contribute to the spread of disease\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black-capped Chickadee at a Feeder","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16117,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mid-atlantic-bird-disease-outbreak-no-change-to-recommendations\/","url_meta":{"origin":16253,"position":1},"title":"Mid-Atlantic Bird Disease Outbreak: No Change to Recommendations","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Bird feeders are still empty and indoors at Mass Audubon sanctuaries\u00a0(as they mostly are statewide). We miss\u00a0seeing our visiting chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and woodpeckers at our nature centers and offices!\u00a0\u00a0 Keeping feeders down is still the right decision in light of the\u00a0disease outbreak\u00a0in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. So far,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16055,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-14-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16253,"position":2},"title":"Update on the Unknown Bird Disease","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Updated 7\/20\/21 Mass Audubon is in conversations with MassWildlife and other colleagues about the risk posed to Massachusetts birds by the ongoing avian disease outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US. While the disease has not been confirmed in any areas north of New Jersey, out of an abundance of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16289,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-return-of-the-feeder-frenzy\/","url_meta":{"origin":16253,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Return of the Feeder Frenzy","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We are so excited to finally be able to put bird feeders back out, now that the threat of the mysterious avian disease seems to have subsided. Thank you to everyone who heeded the call\u2014taking down feeders was an important precaution during a time of uncertainty and we are grateful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder \u00a9 Anindya Sen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16037,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16253,"position":4},"title":"July 13 Update on the Unknown Bird Disease","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Please see July 14 update for latest recommendations. An as-of-yet unidentified disease has been affecting birds across the mid-Atlantic US, leading to neurological symptoms and eye infections in several backyard species. The disease has been observed most in fledglings of Common Grackles, Blue Jays, American Robins, and European Starlings. 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The birds featured below are some of the most commonly seen species in winter all across Massachusetts, and many of them will readily come to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Bluebird \u00a9 Cheryl Rose","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/111Cheryl_Rose12863.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16253"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16334,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16253\/revisions\/16334"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}