RAINYRAMBLES
Keeping local birds safe from avian influenza
BY REBECCA LEXA
Backyard bird flocks across the North-
west are facing a dangerous threat. In
neighborhood chicken yards, local water-
ways and parks, birds are dying suddenly as
a result of avian influenza, ravaging both
domestic and wild bird populations.
A highly contagious disease, avian influ-
enza is almost always fatal, and there’s no
vaccine currently available. The last major
U.S. outbreak was in 2014. However,
Europe and Asia have since seen multiple
avian influenza strains rip through domes-
tic flocks.
Spring migration patterns are a key fac-
tor in the uptick of cases. As wild birds
migrate north toward their summer breed-
ing grounds, they congregate at communal
feeding and resting grounds along the way.
While domestic poultry are highly suscep-
tible to this disease, wild waterfowl are as
well. Raptors, like bald eagles, that scav-
enge the remains of birds killed by avian flu
are also becoming infected. For a backyard
flock to be infected, just one sick bird can
land in the same yard or pasture. It might
eat or drink from a communal feeder or
water source. A bird flying overhead can
drop its feces in a poultry yard. Once just
one domestic bird comes in contact with the
virus, a whole flock can soon be infected.
Caretakers can also inadvertently spread
the virus by tracking infected matter from
one place to another, or by carrying the
virus on their clothing after handling sick
birds. Commercial flocks are especially
at risk, as handlers often travel from one
building to the next, tending to thousands of
birds packed tightly together. Disease can
spread in places like these within just a few
days.
Unfortunately, due to how contagious
avian influenza is, entire flocks must be
culled once some of the birds have been
infected. This includes all poultry on a sin-
gle property, even if they were housed in
different areas.
While fatal for birds, avian influenza is
far less dangerous to humans. While it is
a zoonotic disease, meaning it can pass to
humans from other animals, transmission
Photos by Rebecca Lexa
ABOVE: A hen tends to a set of young chicks. BELOW LEFT: A flock of poultry feeds in a
neighborhood enclosure. BELOW RIGHT: Chickens stand beside a patch of grass.
is extremely rare. The first U.S. case ever
reported occurred in April, infecting a man
working on a commercial poultry farm in
Colorado. This individual was involved in
culling a large number of infected poultry.
Nine other people either participating in the
cull or who were considered close contacts
of the infected person all tested negative.
The majority of reported avian influ-
enza cases among wild and domestic birds
have occurred outside of the Pacific Flyway.
Three other major U.S. flyways, particularly
the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, have
been much harder hit. Most reported out-
breaks in the U.S. section of the Pacific Fly-
way, which includes the Northwest region,
have been in either wild birds or backyard
flocks.
One of those reports comes from close
to home for those of us here in the Colum-
bia-Pacific region. Last month, a lab
detected avian influenza from samples col-
lected the day before from a backyard flock
in Pacific County. Given how many water-
fowl travel through our area during migra-
tion, it’s not at all surprising that infected
birds were among them.
To protect backyard flocks from infec-
tion, report sick birds to the appropriate
fish and wildlife department. Keep domes-
tic poultry flocks indoors when possible.
Outdoor flocks can be covered to prevent
wild birds from landing, while food sources
should remain in coops or shelters to dis-
courage wild birds from feeding among the
flock. If you have multiple flocks, wear dif-
ferent clothing and footwear for each flock
and wash your hands thoroughly before
going to visit the next group. Be careful and
sanitize items when needed.
As for bird feeders? Songbirds have not
been found to be susceptible to avian influ-
enza. That said, those with domestic poul-
try should bring in feeders, just to be safe.
Otherwise, simply keep outdoor feeders
clean.
Fortunately, avian influenza tends to
taper off in warmer weather, so there’s hope
for the outbreak to subside over the sum-
mer months. Until case numbers decline,
though, keep an eye out to protect both
domestic and wild birds.
Rebecca Lexa is a naturalist, nature edu-
cator, tour guide and writer living on the
Long Beach Peninsula. Find more about
her work at rebeccalexa.com.
TO PROTECT BACKYARD FLOCKS FROM INFECTION, REPORT SICK BIRDS TO THE APPROPRIATE FISH
AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. KEEP DOMESTIC POULTRY FLOCKS INDOORS WHEN POSSIBLE. OUTDOOR
FLOCKS CAN BE COVERED TO PREVENT WILD BIRDS FROM LANDING, WHILE FOOD SOURCES SHOULD
REMAIN IN COOPS OR SHELTERS TO DISCOURAGE WILD BIRDS FROM FEEDING AMONG THE FLOCK.
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