Data from: Experimental feeding regime influences urban bird disease dynamics

Wild bird feeding often results in high densities of birds, potentially facilitating transmission of disease. Wild birds are major reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases, and although a number of avian disease outbreaks have been linked to bird feeders, urban bird-feeding and its role in disease systems remains poorly studied. We examined the impacts of typical supplementary feeding practices on the health status of feeder-visiting birds at experimental feeding stations in an urban area of New Zealand. Over an 18-month period, we screened birds captured at feeding and non-feeding properties for three pathogens and four groups of parasites to determine whether feeding altered disease dynamics. We also assessed body condition. All pathogens and parasites were detected in at least one garden bird species. Feeding stations tested positive for Salmonella enterica Typhimurium on ~7% of occasions, confirming that structures used in feeding are a potential transmission pathway. Feeding influenced some parasite infection parameters; these effects varied among host species. In silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis), helminth prevalence and abundance were lower at feeding properties compared to non-feeding properties. In contrast, Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) at feeding properties had a higher abundance of helminths. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) at feeding properties had a higher abundance of feather lice. Furthermore, our feeding regime significantly affected body condition in house sparrow and silvereye, though no associations between parasite parameters and body condition indices were found. Our results demonstrate that feeding practices can have varied effects on avian health, including no observable effects for some disease agents in some host species. Disease risks are present, however, thus understanding and reducing these risks should be a key goal for all stakeholders to protect birds that use feeders and other wildlife.野鸟投喂（wild bird feeding）往往会造成鸟类聚集密度过高，潜在促进疾病传播。野生鸟类是多种人畜共患病（zoonotic diseases）的主要储存宿主，尽管已有多起禽病（avian disease）暴发事件与鸟类喂食器相关联，但城市野鸟投喂行为及其在疾病传播系统中的作用仍未得到充分研究。本研究于新西兰某城市区域的实验投喂站点开展，旨在探究典型人工补饲行为对到访喂食器的鸟类健康状况的影响。研究周期为18个月，我们对在投喂与非投喂场地捕获的鸟类开展了三种病原体与四类寄生虫的筛查，以明确补饲是否会改变疾病动态；同时还对鸟类的身体状况进行了评估。所有目标病原体与寄生虫均至少在一种园林鸟类中被检出；喂食站约7%的采样频次检出鼠伤寒沙门氏菌（Salmonella enterica Typhimurium），证实投喂相关设施是潜在的疾病传播途径。补饲行为对部分寄生虫感染参数存在影响，且该影响因宿主物种而异：银眼鸟（Zosterops lateralis）在投喂场地的蠕虫感染率与感染丰度均低于非投喂场地；与之相反，欧亚乌鸫（Turdus merula）在投喂场地的蠕虫感染丰度更高；家麻雀（Passer domesticus）在投喂场地的羽虱感染丰度更高。此外，本研究采用的补饲方案对家麻雀与银眼鸟的身体状况存在显著影响，但未发现寄生虫感染参数与身体状况指数之间存在关联。本研究结果表明，野鸟投喂行为对鸟类健康的影响存在多样性，部分宿主物种的部分病原体未表现出明显的关联效应；尽管如此，疾病风险依然存在，因此各利益相关方应将认知并降低此类风险作为保护依赖喂食器的鸟类及其他野生生物的核心目标。