Avian Flu Wild Birds Updates

The Wild Bird Feeding Institute diligently monitors Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus outbreaks in the United States and Canada. The risk of transmission to humans is very low and there has been no evidence that the disease is spread by bird feeders, but experts are advising hobbyists to err on the side of caution.

What is the current status of HPAI in North America?

According to the USDA, only seventeen flocks have had confirmed positive birds since the start of 2023. These three months combine for less than the total for December, indicating a hopeful slowing of infection in commercial poultry. The number of afflicted domestic birds has also decreased by over 80% since December. However, the number of affected backyard flocks is still lingering on the higher side, signaling a potential need for backyard growers to continue tightening their security protocols against infection.

In wild birds, the USGS is reporting around 4,400 confirmed cases in wild birds in the United States since January 2023.  However, a significant percentage of these cases are related to a prolonged mortality event that began in November 2022. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is reporting less than 100 confirmed/suspected cases in that same timeframe. The level of monitoring conducted in Canada is not currently known. The majority of infected individuals come from waterfowl. Unfortunately, raptors that scavenge on the waterfowl carcasses are also disproportionately affected. Bald Eagles have had numerous mortalities recorded due to their propensity to follow migratory waterfowl flocks and feed on injured and sick birds. The long-term implications for Bald Eagle populations are unknown, but in the short term, biologists and conservation groups are concerned about existing nests and their immediate success.

Domestic and wild birds both continue to be impacted by HPAI. Still, cyclical relief is expected again during the summer once waterfowl migration has ended and birds disperse to breeding territories.

Will HPAI impact spring migration?

As waterfowl flocks move north to their breeding grounds, newly confirmed cases of HPAI will shift with them. Expect new infected events to appear in areas where migratory waterfowl flocks congregate, but those cases will dissipate quickly as the flocks continue their journey.

Do I need to remove my bird feeders during migration?

The low risk to songbirds and hummingbirds suggests that feeding birds during the spring migration season should be safe in all regions. There are some exceptions:

• People feeding birds with domestic backyard flocks should not leave feeders up.
• Those with wild waterfowl visiting their yards and feeders should remove feeders until the waterfowl depart.
• People living in areas with high numbers of confirmed HPAI cases should consider a temporary removal until those cases have decreased.

For those helping migratory birds this season, continue regular cleaning practices from the WBFI #FEEDSMART resource page. If you see a sick bird, increase cleaning practices until those birds are no longer present.

HPAI continues to be a threat to waterfowl and raptors in North America. Fortunately, songbird lovers can feel safe, as HPAI continues to have a minimal impact on their favorite feeder birds.

According to current research, songbirds and their relatives are not at risk from HPAI. Biologists continue to monitor for potential HPAI threats to smaller birds, and WBFI will continue to provide updates as they become available. In the meantime, migration for these birds should continue as usual, though other threats are still present for these feathered friends!

Per USDA, Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus that can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl).

AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity—the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens.

See report of 2022-2023 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds.

The virus poses a "low risk" to people, according to the CDC. The agency says avian flu viruses "usually do not infect people."

Last updated 2/7/23

WBFI has been closely monitoring the situation since January 2022 taking recommendations from the United States and Canadian governments, our partnered organizations, and conservation/wildlife agencies. Some are recommending the temporary removal of feeders, but does this apply to you? Here is what we advise based on the information we have so far, please note that this may change as the situation evolves, we will update as soon as possible and let you know when it is ok to put them back up if the following conditions below apply to you.

You should consider temporarily take down your feeder temporarily if:

• You are taking care of backyard/domestic poultry or live near a commercial poultry site.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture reports that “Removing backyard feeders is not something the USDA specifically recommends preventing avian influenza unless you also take care of poultry."
  • From the Government of Canada website, regarding “Feeding wild birds in your backyard: “The use of bird feeders is still safe but they should be removed from areas that are open to poultry and other domestic animals.”
  • WBFI recommends looking at the CDC’s map of commercial outbreaks to consider whether feeders in the area should be taken down temporarily due to outbreaks and to take down if there is backyard poultry in the same area as feeders
  • Unsure? Contact your local or state wildlife department to see if taking their feeder down is their recommendation based on HPAI/migration activity in your area.

• Your local/state wildlife agency recommends removing it because you live in an area with many HPAI-positive wild bird cases recorded.
  • To date, WBFI has not heard from any state wildlife agencies that are recommending this at this time unless you are working with poultry.
  • See national trackers below for the most recent stats on outbreaks:

• • • UNITED STATES - APHIS’ wild bird surveillance program
    • CANADA - CFIA NEOC GIS Services HPAI Wild Bird tracker

• As an additional cautionary measure - the temporary removal of feeders may be advised if you have seen species of wild birds that have been impacted most by HPAI: raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, scavenger birds, or game birds visiting near the feeders frequently.

LAST UPDATED 4/21/22

AVIAN FLU UPDATE

APRIL 15, 2022

WBFI members:

The Wild Bird Feeding Institute is working with leading experts to keep our members informed about issues that may affect the hobby of bird feeding. The health and safety of wildlife are our primary concerns, and we have been closely monitoring the Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses that have been detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard or hobbyist flocks beginning in January 2022. Download WBFI’s press release here from April 1, 2022.

News outlets have now picked up the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota’s Facebook post encouraging hobbyists to take feeders down. Dr. Victoria Hall has agreed to meet with WBFI staff to ensure we are helping the birds as best as we can during this challenging time and providing accurate, scientific information to our members and consumers.  Until then, here is what WBFI knows so far: READ MORE.

The Wild Bird Feeding Institute has been diligently monitoring the outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus [HPAI A(H5N1)] outbreak in the United States and Canada. To date, there have been no recorded cases in this outbreak of any generic feeder birds contracting the Avian Influenza Virus, and the only wild birds reported to have been infected have been waterfowl, water birds, shorebirds, and birds of prey that consume infected birds.

Download April 1, 2022 WBFI Press Release on the Avian Flu Outbreak.

Recently, there are reports of an outbreak of a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus [HPAI A(H5N1)] in commercial poultry and backyard flocks following its identification in wild birds earlier this year.

The threat to the general public is considered to be low by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here, I will discuss:

1. what bird flu is and how it is spread
2. the circumstances of this particular outbreak
3. how we can educate wild bird feeding enthusiasts on how to stay safe, even though the risk to the general public is low.

READ MORE: https://www.wbfi.org/2022/02/18/56216/