I think at this point I’ve forgotten at least 90% of the mnemonics I’ve used over time, but it doesn’t really cause me issues. Mnemonics are useful for the initial learning, but repeated exposure is ultimately how you’re going to commit them to long term memory. The mnemonics fade, but eventually you remember just based on vibes, you just know. And if you forget, you forget. Relearning is part of the process, too.
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Except 鳥 isn’t level six. I haven’t even learned it at level 7 yet.
Mnemonics are there to help you recall whatever it is you’re supposed to be trying to remember. That’s the very nature of mnemonics. If they’re not working for you you need stronger mnemonics or more review sessions. It will always take a few tries before the tougher mnemonics stick but that’s the whole point of using them.
You want your mnemonics to be easy to recall so if WKs aren’t working for you it’s time to make up your own.
I am level 8 now and i can say level 6 was probably the most challenging so far. Onceyou start to realize how important radicals are you have as an easier time with readings
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This is the way.
I try most of the mnemonics, sometimes they work, frequently they don’t. Occasionally I figure it out anyway, and sometimes I just have to fail it enough times that my mnemonic is “Hey, pinhead, it’s not this, it’s that, don’t mess it up again!” 
So those are your footsteps I’m stepping in (though probably many of us). For added reinforcement, I also kept confusing 生 with those as well, which made for a lot of embarrassment continuing reinforcement opportunities!
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lol, I am sure its a very well trodden path. Our ability to notice those smaller differences between different Kanji’s is a skill we have to develop. Its certainly frustrating at the beginning because we don’t know what we need to look out for, so we feel like we walk into gotcha questions. I can say it has gotten easier over time, even just a few more levels in. I still mix things up from time to time, but I feel I am taking more details in at once. Its like connecting puzzle pieces, before it was a single piece at a time, but now it feels like I’m connecting a few big blocks together at once.
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One thing I haven’t really seen anybody mention but hitting the SRS times on new reviews is a really big factor. I clear out my reviews at 9a, 1p, 9p every day and if I miss any on the first day my memory really suffers for that kanji/vocab. I would recommend trying to get the 3 recommended in a day on any new kanji/radicals just to really reinforce those to keep levelling