How to feed to help, not hurt, wild birds

Anthony Rothering, professor of biology at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, shows suet (mixture of beef fat, seeds and apple chunks) that he places in a bird feeder on campus. He suggests that people using suet in bird feeders in the summertime use more heat-resistant types of suet because of the potential for melting. Tamara Browning

Feeding birds responsibly by first keeping backyard bird feeders clean goes a long way in preventing illnesses such as salmonellosis in feeder birds, a central Illinois biology professor said.

Anthony “Tony” Rothering, professor of biology, mathematics and sciences at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, is aware of a recent salmonellosis outbreak in common feeder birds such as pine siskins (songbirds) on which Wild Bird Feeding Institute research consultant Jenna McCullough has reported on in a recent blog.