What You Need to Know
You may have heard about avian influenza (or “bird flu”) and the development of this disease in North America. At this point in time, most wildlife and health experts say you may continue feeding the birds. However, as of April 21 here in Illinois the IDNR has recommended taking down bird feeders and bird baths until May 31 or until the outbreak in Illinois subsides. Here is the link to the IDNR press release: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Pages
This outbreak of HPAI has been reported in northern Illinois and has been found in some waterfowl like geese and cormorants. It can also affect raptors like Bald Eagles which can prey upon carcasses of diseased waterfowl. Most susceptible to HPAI are domestic flocks like chickens, turkeys, geese, etc. so it is recommended that feeders in close proximity to those types of birds be taken away for now. There have been no reports of HPAI in southern Illinois to date.
Here at WBU Swansea, we recommend continuing to safely feed your backyard birds by maintaining clean feeders and baths and removing any seed under the feeders especially if you have geese or ducks visiting your yard. It is also okay to keep your hummingbird feeders up. Of course, you are free to decide for yourself if you wish to stop feeding for awhile.
Here are some facts about HPAI as we know them today:
Since Fall of 2021, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) has been detected in numerous outbreaks in North America. It is a naturally-occurring virus especially prevalent among wild aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and shorebirds and has been shown to affect commercial and backyard poultry with high mortality.
However, according to the Cornell University Wildlife Health Lab, “Passerines [song birds] do not seem susceptible to HPAI and are not thought to play a significant role in spreading this virus. We are not recommending removal of bird feeders at this point.”
And the Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases at U Penn Vet School states, “According to the USDA, there is no evidence that birdfeeders, or the birds that frequent them, contribute to the spread of HPAI.”
The US Department of Agriculture further states, “HPAI viruses and the illness they cause are not commonly found in wild birds…removing backyard feeders is not somethings USDA specifically recommends to prevent avian influenza unless you also take care of poultry.” Also, the Government of Canada affirms, “The use of bird feeders is still safe but they should be removed from areas that are open to poultry and other domestic animals.”
In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Agency of Canada currently deem H5N1 to be of low human health risk.
To practice the hobby of bird feeding safely and to ensure the birds’ overall health, it is always recommended you clean your bird feeders regularly with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.
Please don't hesitate to call the store if you have any questions!