Here’s an article from a couple of days ago on this topic.
Quotes from it:  “Idaho fish and wildlife officials are recommending that residents take down their backyard bird feeders or clean them frequently amid a salmonella outbreak that has infected songbirds across the western U.S.” …. “You can help to stop the spread of salmonellosis by discontinuing backyard bird feeding until at least April 1 to encourage birds to disperse and forage naturally,” said Kristin Mansfield, a veterinarian with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Birds use natural food sources year-round, even while also using backyard bird feeders, so they should be fine without the feeders for another month.”

A friend just emailed to say that they were
taking their bird-feeders down until April because of a
salmonella outbreak. Is this the thing to do? Is it all feeders
or just some?

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Ruth,

In an attempt to maintain what mental health remains, I spent the PM wandering around the NE corner of American Falls reservoir attempting to survey swans. Only found 20 trumpeters.  I received a report last week of flocks field feeding on the east side of the reservoir near the mouth of the Portneuf but they seem to have moved out of the Springfield area.  I figure that with the reservoir substantially frozen they have few roosting areas near the NE fields.  They usually begin heading north out of eastern Idaho about this time.

But I did not get stuck anywhere, most road are quite solid, and I was rewarded with 3 Prairie Falcons perched on various telephone poles.  One allowed me to park within 50 feet and when it eventually flew showed its nice dark axillars.  A low flying male Marsh Hawk was the first ray of hope that spring is on the way.  But the highlight was the pair of Sandhill Cranes that flew over me.  The only 2 that I saw.. Food is abundant in the fields that were harvested last fall and are now snow free in much of the area.  Overall birdlife was very sparse but the cranes made my day.