[cobirds] Avian Influenza

The information in regards to the current HPAI outbreak in the nation has been out there and available for public access for a long time. The impacts to domestic poultry, commercial and backyard, started late last winter. 

Part of the problem is that significant swaths of the birding community in this country has downplayed the risks because to date since HPAI is not impacting songbird populations. This hasn't helped to get the word out to the community as a whole.

Fall migration is exacerbating the local situation. Since the end of November our facility has admitted over a dozen adult Red-tailed hawks and Great horned owls with HPAI. All of these raptors are now deceased. Dealing with these cases requires the extensive use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

The virus is shed mainly through the feces, so wherever an infected goose or duck poops, it is a potential source of infection.

The bottom line is that there is no practical way to stop or slow down the spread of this in the wild.  Nature will need to take its course to see where this ultimately goes. State and local agencies are working on response plans, but this is a monumental task due to the drain on resources. The amount of manpower and money needed to respond on the level that people want is staggering. The best that all of you as individuals can do is to do your best to protect yourselves and your neighbors. Communicate with people you know that have backyard poultry. Don't wear the same footwear for schlepping around a lake birding and then caring for your backyard chickens wearing the same shoes.

It is not advised to pick up dead waterfowl on your own. You run the risk of not only spreading the virus, but also contracting it. The more contact you have with infected animals the greater your risk is of becoming ill. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a joint statement about not picking up dead birds.

Maybe a coordinated effort between Audubon and other entities to pool resources for carcass collection and disposal under the guidance of CPW, CDPHE, local and federal agencies could help mitigate this growing problem.

I wish all of you patience and good luck during this difficult situation.

Michael C Tincher

Rehabilitation Coordinator

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

Fort Collins, CO

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