Very interesting. What is the benchmark by which the author will put her feeders back out? I read it twice trying to understand that but I don't see that info.
Scientists who say things like "we know" instead of something like "current evidence indicates" make me nervous.
From a purely clinical standpoint, I'm not sure people should interfere with wild animals at all, beyond trying to not encroach in ways that cause them harm, and to repair damages to environments. People who like to have the birds visit a specific spot with some regularity, including myself with the hummingbird feeders, are doing just that. What is the overall net gain/loss for this type of bird or that one? IDK.
There are so many examples of humans causing additional and sometimes worse issues for wildlife. If dirty bird feeders are causing more spread of disease than would otherwise occur, some bird feeders/types of bird feeders, &/or their maintenance may be something that should be examined.
Aren't naturally occurring diseases part of how evolution eliminates the weaker individuals so that the strong survive? If so, is that what is occurring? IDK. Is there some suggestion that this disease is caused by humans? IDK. If not, why should humans insert themselves into the issue, beyond observing and whatever documentation is needed to determine that it IS naturally-occurring? If it is, for how long has this virus been occurring? A few years, hundreds of years, entire geological eras? IDK.
