We are in our sixth survey window, which started on Sunday March 14 and runs through Saturday April 3. The seventh and LAST survey window begins on Sunday April 4 and runs through Saturday April 24.

Thank You for Protecting Our Birds from Disease

We are tracking the severity of avian illness like Salmonella at bird feeders in the west. At this time, the outbreak does not appear to be worsening or spreading in Utah, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. In Idaho, the request for bird feeders to remain down is still in place until April 1.

Please continue to adhere to the guidance for your area:

Utah, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming

Please clean feeders and bird baths at least weekly by removing all the seeds, washing the feeders with soapy water, and then soaking them in a 10% bleach solution. Allow the feeder to soak in the solution for 30 minutes before rinsing the bleach off thoroughly and letting the feeder dry completely before reinstalling it outside.

If you see sick or dead birds, take down and remove all bird feeders and bird baths for at least 1 month. This will encourage birds to disperse and will help slow the transmission of the disease. If it is safe for feeders to be deployed again, we welcome volunteers to join us for Feeder Counts during the last count window (April 4 – April 24).

For more detail on cleaning and what to do if you see sick birds, please read Utah's Press Release here.

Idaho

Please take down your bird feeders and bird baths until April 1. If it is safe for feeders to be deployed again, we welcome volunteers to join us for Feeder Counts during the last count window (April 4 – April 24).

For more information, including what to do you if think you have sick birds at your feeder, see Project FeederWatch’s website. Don’t hesitate to contact rosyfinchstudy@gmail.com with questions.

Quick Links

Don’t forget, as soon as you finish your survey, email a scan or photo of your datasheet to: rosyfinchstudy@gmail.com
The Rosy-finch Project website.
The Count Guide for everything you need to know.
The data sheet, now a fillable PDF!
The Training is available on YouTube.
Join the Facebook Group to share stories, photos, and ask questions!
If you know others who may be interested, they can still join here.

Rosy-Finches Are on the Move

Based on the data sheets we are receiving and reports from volunteers like you, rosy-finches are on the move. Some of you are seeing rosy-finches for the first time all season! March could be a significant time for rosy-finches to migrate between their winter and summer habitats.

*"Coyote," a male black rosy-finch who is tagged and has been returning to Alta for years.*

“Coyote” the male Black Rosy-Finch was fitted with an RFID leg band in April 2019 in Alta, Utah. During winter 2020, “Coyote” was not detected at RFID-enabled feeders until March. Biologists also observed him alongside fledgling birds in Alta’s alpine habitats that summer. Just a few weeks ago, he showed up at Alta’s feeders for the first time this winter.

Information like this, coupled with your Feeder Count data, is helping biologists unravel the mysteries of rosy-finch populations. Thank you for your hard work!

Updates on the Rosy-finch Project and Disease