Mukilteo Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

One of the documented, positive outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic has been the uptick of people taking up bird watching and adding bird feeders to their properties.

But a recent outbreak of salmonellosis is leading to the death of wild birds throughout the northern part of the country, including in Snohomish and Island counties.

Salmonellosis is caused by the salmonella bacteria, and is primarily spread through fecal contamination of food and water sources, but can also be passed directly from bird-to-bird. Outbreaks are typically seen in winter and spring, a time of year when many birds...