Bird Feeders Help Researchers Understand Disease Transmission
To understand disease transmission among birds, researchers studied the spread of an eye infection called mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. This infection has highly visible signs, similar to pink eye in humans, making it easy to recognize and record.
Jim Adelman, an assistant professor in natural resource ecology and management at Iowa State University, said revealing the role of bird feeders in this pathogen's transmission is critical to reducing the disease's spread and could provide general insights into how pathogens are shared across species.
Adelman cautioned against removing backyard bird feeders. The feeders provide plenty of health benefits for birds. Rather than removing feeders, he recommends disinfecting feeders regularly to combat the spread of pathogens. For more go to: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/how-to-clean-your-bird-feeder/?