There’s another epidemic creeping around the corner, but this time it’s targeting birds. While avian flu isn’t a new character on the scene, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is causing concern among commercial producers and wild bird lovers. The question is, what can we do to minimize its impact?

What Birds are at Risk for Avian Flu?

The initial concern arose because of deaths within commercial poultry operations in February. By mid-April over 28 million chickens and turkey have died because of it. It’s not certain how much this might affect home poultry flocks, but it’s definitely a concern. Within this same time frame, it’s in 29 states causing the deaths of multiple bald eagles, snowgeese, and a variety of other species. Because of the spread to wild birds, we need to be vigilant.

During a recent visit to Ohio to see family, the variety and numbers of birds amazed me. While out, I tried to determine the calls of birds unseen in the trees and delighted in every cardinal sighting. There are so many, and it makes sense why congregating at feeders brings them into risk of catching the infection. 

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What to do to Reduce the Risk of Avian Flu

Because groups of birds can easily spread the disease — and birds don’t understand social distancing unless it’s from a hawk – if there is HPAI in your area, consider taking down your feeders. Think of it as an outbreak at a buffet. It’s not pretty. Fortunately, we’re reaching to the point in the year when they don’t depend on the feeders as insects reemerge.

If you do want to continue feeding, step up the cleanliness. This means raking up spent shells, as well as bird poop. And keep any bird baths or water features clean. The Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) goes as far as recommending people trim back brush and tall grass around ponds. They also suggest placing netting or fencing over a pond of been wild birds from entering. 

This is also a good time to remove old nests from within buildings or barns. Keep in mind that it is illegal to disturb the nest with eggs or young birds. Seal up any entrances where birds may enter and build a nest.

If you do have home chickens,  keep them contained and away from wild birds. When we kept our chickens the sparrows were in feeding on the ground and drinking from their water all the time. This is the worse case scenario to spread something like this avian influenza. So even if you need to put a netting over the top of a coop or fenced area, try your best to keep the wild birds away from your chickens. 

Reporting Bird Deaths

If you do have birds that die of mysterious circumstances, who are you call depends on your state. A good resource for home poultry people is to contact their local Extension agent. If they don’t take the reports, there is a good chance they’ll know who handles them. If you find a bird in the wild, it’s recommended not to touch it with your bare hands. In this case,  you might want to give the department of natural resources or your state fish and game a ring. Let them know where you found the bird so they can pick it up and send it away for testing. Another option is to contact your county health department. While there isn’t a huge concern about this virus infecting humans, the health department might stay abreast of the situation.

It’s not as if we haven’t learned how to live with a virus over these past several years, but it’s always a concern when it hits our feathered friends. Consider bringing in those feeders, or at least, keep everything very clean, and watch for any birds that don’t look healthy. Hopefully this will be a short-lived situation, and by the fall we can be back to feeding and enjoying watching the birds outside our windows.