I think you know I've been involved in the Bluebirds Over Georgia, Inc. for about ten years now. The following is a set of self-explanatory e-mails about the recent peanut butter scare in regards to my "Bird Muffins," a recipe I pass out each year since I found that the soft-palate birds all love this treat. I was concerned because I knew that a UGA Professor had tried my recipe and said that he and his wife even tried them themselves and thought they were pretty "Tasty". I did not want to be responsible for poisoning a "two legged bird" of any species. A lot of Master Gardeners are at least undergraduate bird promoters so they may be interested to learn about this subject.
Dear Dr. Gowaty,
I hope I'm asking coherent questions. I make lots of muffins for the birds, they are very successful for keeping bluebirds around. The recipe I invented calls for gobs of "cheap" peanut butter, so after the recent tainted PB scare of the very brands I use, I need to know if birds are susceptible to the same food poisons as humans. And, does baking the muffin with the PB incorporated into the recipe take care of the tainting problem?
I write a newsletter for bluebird promoters so I would like to pass the info on very soon.
Thank you, Lyn Davies
At 08:16 AM 3/22/2007, Patty Gowaty wrote:
Hi Lyn,
I'm not really knowledgeable enough on avian nutritional physiology to answer this question.
An ecological physiologist, who also studies bluebirds, may be able to help you. I'm ccing to her. Her name is Dr. Jeanne Fair. I hope she can help you. She may email you when she sees the question below.
Patty
Patricia Adair Gowaty, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia
Jeanne Fair’s Response:
Dear Lyn,
Salmonella is a type of bacterium found in the gut of many species of birds both domestic and wild. However, during periods of stress it can cause outbreaks of sickness and death. There are thousands of types (serotypes) though the most important in songbirds is called Salmonella typhimurium. Disease can occur in susceptible segments of bird populations when stresses increase. Usually the youngest and oldest birds are the most vulnerable but large segments of the population can be affected when events occur such as storms, low food sources, etc
The largest outbreak I have read about was in the winter of 1997-98, when a large outbreak of Salmonellosis was witnessed across eastern North America. Sick and dead birds were seen in at least 15 eastern and midwest US states and all Canadian provinces from Manitoba eastwards. The species of birds affected included the Common Redpoll, Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches and American goldfinches.
However, from the news reports on the peanut butter Salmonella contamination there is no information on what type of Salmonella.
So, the short answer is Salmonella is something that is very common in birds and mostly a symbiotic relationship. However, sometimes it can cause problems but only under increased stress. Cooking will kill Salmonella so your muffins should be fine.
