[rahbert]

We have birdfeeders in Santa Fe and had a problem
with salmonella spreading among the birds during the
wet spring.

Many dead pine siskins... we were told that the fallen
seeds and husks need to be cleaned up to prevent this.

A whole class of dependent birds, but they are pleasant
see and hear (as well as entertaining for the cats to
watch through the windows).

[sweetliberty]

"we were told that the fallen seeds and husks need to be cleaned up to prevent this."

Yes, there are a lot of precautions that must be taken with feeders, and it is a lot of work. Keeping the area under the feeders swept up, especially after a rain, and using only enough seed in open platform feeders to last a day helps prevent food build-up which contributes to spoilage. Also, there are some feeders and foods that are very efficient at minimizing fallout and moisture buiidup. It also makes a difference where you put the feeders.