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Q: Should I continue feeding wild birds when avian influenza is in the area?

Although avian influenza has been detected broadly in waterfowl and raptors, transmission to songbirds and other typical feeder visitors remains low. As a result, there is currently no recommendation to remove feeders, unless you also keep domestic poultry on the property. To date, avian influenza has not been detected in Missouri songbirds, and these species are not considered a significant risk for spreading the virus.

Avian influenza spreads through contact with infected feces, saliva, or nasal discharge. Migratory waterfowl can carry the virus along North American flyways, and it can move among wild birds and domestic poultry. Symptoms of illness to watch for in wild birds include tremors, head tilting, lethargy, poor coordination, difficulty flying or walking, and trouble standing upright.

It’s also important to know that bird feeders can contribute to the spread of other common songbird diseases such as salmonellosis, trichomoniasis, or conjunctivitis if they are not routinely cleaned and maintained. Crowding at feeders increases the chance of disease transmission, making proper hygiene essential.

To keep feeders safe, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommends disassembling and washing them in a dishwasher on a hot setting. You can also handwash using soap and boiling water or a diluted bleach solution (no more than one part bleach to nine parts water). Scrub away debris and old seed, soak feeders in the bleach solution for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before refilling. 

Q: Is this an albino turkey?

Some observers call turkeys like this smoke-phase turkeys or smoke morphs. With this genetic mutation, a bird’s feathers commonly lack both brown pigment and blue, purple, and green iridescence. The overall coloration can vary. 
The dominant color is usually white, with darker contrasting colors marking the bird’s back, wing, and tail feathers. Smoke-phase turkeys also typically have less blue and pink coloration on the neck and head, compared with a standard wild turkey.

The smoke-phase phenomenon is considered one of about four hereditary conditions that a turkey might exhibit. The others are: 

• Erythristic — a reddish or rust-colored appearance
• Melanistic — nearly all black
• Leucistic — whitish or piebald
• Albino — all white with pinkish eyes

Smoke is the most common wild turkey morph. Biologists estimate one in every 100 wild turkeys have this muted coloration, though most are not as striking as the bird pictured here. 

The bird in this photo appears to be a hen. Most smoke-phase turkeys are female, although scientific observers do not understand why this is — yet.