Recently there has been renewed discussion about taking down bird feeders to protect wild birds from the current avian influenza outbreak.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is discouraging “feeding and providing water to wild birds” especially if backyard poultry is present. More information from the CDFW is available at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=200657&inline.
All About Birds from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has additional information on this question. They contend that there is “very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds” and encourage regular cleaning of feeders and water sources to prevent spread. Read their article updated on September 13, 2022 for more information at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/avian-influenza-outbreak-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders/.
To properly clean your feeders a diluted bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water) is recommended. Read more at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-clean-your-bird-feeder/.
Evening Grosbeak, Image by Daniel Brown