How can we protect birds from avian influenza?
disease: • keep your distance (restrict access to your property and your birds); • keep it clean (clean and disinfect your clothes, shoes, equipment, and hands); • don't haul disease home (if you have been near other birds or bird owners, clean and disinfect poultry cages and equipment before going home); • don't risk ...
Which birds are likely to be infected with avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses? Wild birds that carry bird flu viruses include waterbirds, like ducks, geese and swans, and shorebirds, like storks. Bird flu viruses can easily spread from wild birds to poultry, like chickens and turkeys.
Signs of Avian Flu Illness in Birds Sudden death; lack of energy, appetite and coordination; purple discoloration and/or swelling of various body parts; diarrhea; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; and reduced egg production and/or abnormal eggs.
Wild water birds (like ducks and geese) can be infected with avian (bird) influenza (flu) viruses, but usually do not get sick.
Vaccination is one of the more effective ways to prevent specific diseases. This is why we vaccinate poultry; so they are protected from explosive disease outbreaks.
The best control for avian pox in captive (turkeys, pheasants, threatened and endangered species) and domestic (chickens and turkeys) birds is vaccination with a modified live vaccine. In wild birds, vaccination is not a feasible method of control.
HPAI symptoms in wild birds can include: nervousness, tremors or lack of coordination, swelling around the head, neck and eyes, lack of energy or movement, coughing, gasping for air or sneezing, diarrhea, or sudden death. However, wild birds, particularly waterfowl, infected with HPAI may be asymptomatic.
Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are numerous, highly visible, and widely distributed in both migratory and resident populations in North America; as a member of the order Anseriformes, they are often suggested as a potential reservoir and source for avian influenza (AI) viruses.
More than a dozen dead Canada geese frozen on the ice of Sheldon Lake at Fort Collins City Park likely died from highly pathogenic avian influenza that has claimed tens of thousands of waterfowl and hundreds of raptors in Colorado.
Properly handling and cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including bird flu viruses.
Can hummingbirds carry avian flu?
According to Dr. Victoria Hall of the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, hummingbird feeders are not without risk when it comes to spreading disease.
Typically, infection with LPAI is often difficult to detect, with very few if any clinical signs. An infected flock might show signs of respiratory distress, diarrhoea, a loss of appetite or a drop in egg production of more than 5%.

Influenza A viruses are endemic (can infect and regularly transmit) in 6 animal species or groups (wild waterfowl, domestic poultry, swine, horses, dogs, and bats) in addition to humans.
Waterfowl, such as swans, ducks, and geese, are the type of birds that are most likely to be infected with avian influenza. Although wild backyard birds and pigeons are unlikely to be infected with avian influenza, it is always best to minimize contact with fecal material.
Wild aquatic birds include waterbirds (waterfowl) such as ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns, and shorebirds, such as storks, plovers, and sandpipers. Wild aquatic birds, especially dabbling ducks, are considered reservoirs (hosts) for avian influenza A viruses.
Bird flu viruses have in the past been known to sometimes infect mammals that eat (presumably infected) birds or poultry, including but not limited to wild animals such as foxes and skunks; stray or domestic animals such cats and dogs; and zoo animals such as tigers and leopards.
References
- https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/11/08/do-i-need-to-keep-my-chickens-indoors-to-protect-them-from-avian-flu/
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
- https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents/2021-11/aviancooking.pdf
- https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/avian-influenza-now-in-17-mn-counties-totaling-1-8-million-birds
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/should-i-take-my-feeder-down-when-the-weather-starts-to-warm-up/
- https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-waste/carcass-management-during-avian-influenza-outbreaks
- https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/diseases/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/avianflu/avian-flu-transmission.pdf
- https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/avian_influenza.html
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/bro-protect-poultry-from-ai.pdf
- https://www.flockingaround.com/post/avian-flu-outbreak-2022
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm
- https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/avian_flu_food_handlers.pdf
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading
- https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/dead-birds/index.html
- https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/frequently-asked-questions-0
- https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/avian-influenza-protect-birds-qa.pdf
- https://extension.umn.edu/poultry-health/avian-influenza-basics-noncommercial-poultry-flock-owners
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bird-flu-avian-influenza
- https://bestlifeonline.com/feed-birds-flu-news/
- https://krcrtv.com/news/local/a-canada-goose-collected-in-weaverville-tests-positive-for-avian-influenza
- https://wildlife.utah.gov/avian-influenza.html
- https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/avian-influenza-food-safety-qa.pdf
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-housing-your-birds-safely
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/avianflu/Bird-Flu-Exposure-Handout.pdf
- https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/11/15/can-dogs-get-bird-flu/
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/virus-transmission.htm
- https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g8909
- https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birding-basics/bird-flu/
- https://birdfeederhub.com/should-i-take-down-feeders-because-of-the-avian-flu/
- https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/bird-flu-wild-ducks-geese/
- https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/game-birds/avian-influenza/
- http://www.ndhealth.gov/disease/documents/faqs/bird%20flu.pdf
- https://www.yardenvy.com/diy/attractbirdfeeders.htm
- https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/disease/216/avian-influenza-bird-flu
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/h5/infected-birds-exposure.htm
- https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates/
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784916/
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-birds.htm
- https://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/respiratory/c_bd_Avian_Influenza
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bird-flu/
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-faq.htm
- https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/avian-pox
- https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/avian-flu-and-bird-feeders-can-you-still-feed-hummingbirds.html
- https://familydoctor.org/condition/avian-flu/
- http://afs.ca.uky.edu/files/bird_flu-cleaninganddisinfection2015.pdf
- https://www.fao.org/3/y4359e/y4359e0g.htm
- https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/bird-flu-2022-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders.html
- https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/hissing-honking-and-head-bobbing-are-all-warning-signs-that-a-goose-might-attack-wildlife-experts-1.4997189
- https://www.goosebusters.net/problems-geese-present/
- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/4539547/has-bird-flu-spread-to-garden-birds/
- https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/avian/questions_and_answers/
- https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/why-experts-say-you-should-immediately-stop-filling-birdfeeders.html
- https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2017-11/avian-influenza-bird-flu-advice-for-keepers-of-small-flocks.pdf
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500029-overview
- https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2023/01/11/fort-collins-sheldon-lake-dead-geese-succum-avian-flu-colorado/69796120007/
- https://mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/wildlife-diseases/avian-pox
- https://www.cityfarmersnursery.com/news/2018/2/21/how-often-should-i-refill-my-bird-feeders
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/human-case-of-avian-flu-detected-in-uk
- https://www.runnymede.gov.uk/animal-welfare/bird-flu/4
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20688710/
- https://extension.umn.edu/poultry-care-and-management/preventing-heat-stress-poultry
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-other-animals.htm
- https://poultrykeeper.com/keeping-geese/beginners-guide-keeping-geese/
- https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/poultry-health-basics-planning-disease-prevention
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/avian-influenza-outbreak-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders/
- https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/pages/dead-or-sick-wild-birds-what-to-do/
- https://www.wildlifecenter.org/avian-poxvirus
- https://theconversation.com/how-do-geese-know-how-to-fly-south-for-the-winter-149225
- https://www.vet.upenn.edu/research/centers-laboratories/research-initiatives/wildlife-futures-program/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheet-detail/avian-pox
- https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/News/News-Features/Avian-flu/Avian-Influenza-or-Birdflu-FAQs.aspx
- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/avianflu/default.html
- https://ca.audubon.org/press-release/audubon-california-urges-backyard-birders-empty-bird-baths-and-feeders-avian-flu
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/where-to-put-your-bird-feeder/
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-52-million-birds-dead-because-of-avian-flu-in-us-180981215/
- https://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/products/virkon-s-disinfectant-sachet-50g
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htm
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6282993/
- https://campus.extension.org/mod/book/view.php?id=49302&chapterid=17103
- https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/prevention.htm
- https://www.chickens.allotment-garden.org/keeping-geese/geese-diseases-parasites-worms-lice-mites/
- https://www.ohiogeesecontrol.com/diseases-that-canada-geese-carry/
- https://www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/waterfowl-hunters-and-the-avian-flu-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/avian_flu_animal_handlers.pdf
- https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/7089.pdf