bird flu and bird feeders

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One of my favorite pastimes is bird watching. I also love to put feeders up and enjoy watching the wild birds when they come to the feeders.

I live in NE Ohio, and this week, the homeowners’ association sent out a notice warning residents about possible illnesses in local geese and ducks. We are on a geese/ bird migratory pathway, and geese are commonly found in our waterways, especially on our gold courses. My condo is on a golf course with a local river/creek that meanders through the properties.

The report stated several dead geese were found in the area. Note the below section of the report:

30-35 dead Canadian geese and mallard ducks on the Tuscarora River and xxx Lake in xx. The wildlife division came out to get samples, and we are awaiting results. The County Health Department has also been made aware of this. Both agencies have requested that people do not feed the ducks/ geese to avoid them being in congregated proximity.

Additionally, the notice stated both agencies had advised people and animals to have no contact with the geese. Do not touch dead birds/waterfowl. Wear a mask, gloves, and something over your clothes if you come in contact. If anyone has been in contact or proximity, you are asked to call the Health Department. You need to monitor yourself for 10 days for flu-like symptoms. This is also contagious to animals. Please do not let your dogs or dead geese around the river!

It is not just the birds that come to the feeders

Research

Well, it is the middle of winter; we have had temps below zero with chill indexes of negative 20 for the last few days, and the birds are at the feeders. They need feed to maintain their energy and stay warm. So what do I do—continue to feed or what?

One of my main reasons for concern is the geese in the backyard. They leave a mess of droppings, and my birds are within a few feet of the area. Also, a flock of European starlings is attacking the feeders, as is my usual collection of finches, doves, cardinals, bluejays, and juncos.

Shoveled path to the feeder and put out tray a few times a day

I researched Avian flu and went to the Cornell lab on Wild Birds. SEE HERE. While the virus is relatively low in songbirds, it is found in significant numbers in Canadian geese and mallard ducks, hawks, crows, and others. This site also noted transmission to humans is low. They recommend cleaning the feeders regularly if one is feeding wild birds. Well, I cannot do that in the middle of winter.

Cornell gave me a link to other information sites, which led me to the USDA animal and plant health section. SEE HERE. I found that Ohio has had multiple cases of Avian Flu in areas around Cleveland and near my location.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Health SEE HERE and HERE recommends the following:

“The public should observe wildlife from a distance. Exercising caution protects against possible exposure to pathogens that cause disease and minimizes disturbance to wildlife. Routine personal hygienic precautions should be taken when around domestic and wild birds. Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand products if the hands are not visibly soiled) is a very effective method for inactivating any influenza virus, including HPAI H5N1. These viruses are also inactivated with common disinfectants such as detergents, 10 percent household bleach, rubbing alcohol, and other commercial disinfectants.”

These websites also provide information on symptoms, incidence in humans and human symptoms, how to report the incidence of illnesses in animals or humans, plus other information.

Conclusions

Following my reading, I have decided to stop feeding my little friends. Stopping the feeding of the birds would be difficult for me. I know the cold is a killing factor in wild birds. I have fed birds for years, and I know some of the birds have been coming to my feeders each year, but based on the reasons listed below, I am going to stop.

  1. The national registry list of positive numbers of avian flu in bird species listed the European starling as one species with a higher infection rate. As I told you, we have had flocks of these guys attaching the feeders every time I filled them. I have added a new feed four times daily to keep up with the demand. So, there is an increased risk of a field flocking bird, such as starling or contracting the disease, especially if these gees are positive.
  2. I also found that, contrary to my belief, the cold does NOT inhibit or kill the avian flu. In fact, Amhurst College reported that low temperatures will increase the virus’s stability. The virus can survive at least 35 days at low temperatures, even at 39 °F, so freezing will not reduce the hazard. The virus can survive in bird droppings for a week at room temperature. So, my initial thought that the cold would make spread less likely was incorrect.
  3. The above also increases my resolve to throw away some of my old feeders and definitely clean my new feeders once the weather allows for washing. Dawn soap and water will kill influenza A, as will bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide.
  4. The issue will be less once the geese migrate back to Canada. Then, I will likely restart feeding. By then, I will also be able to clean the feeders. I will wear gloves and a mask for the tasks until the avian flu incidence falls.

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