It is right here within the Willamette Valley. It is killing birds. As of now, there isn’t any remedy.
In the sector, you might spot a few of its victims. It is being discovered throughout the nation: wild birds are dying in addition to ones on poultry farms. This flu virus doesn’t sometimes infect people, however it has, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your cat, canine or different mammalian pet or livestock may contract the virus if uncovered to an contaminated chook whereas exterior. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has specific advice to hunters who may be handling waterfowl.
ODFW’s web site explains: “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been circulating in wild birds in North America since December 2021 … Typically, HPAI doesn’t trigger large-scale mortality in wild waterfowl or different teams of untamed birds however usually causes extreme sickness and loss of life in home chickens and turkeys. However, the present H5N1 pressure has precipitated elevated mortality for wild waterfowl (particularly geese), shorebirds, raptors and scavengers equivalent to vultures. Currently, there have been 7,476 confirmed detections in 136 species of untamed birds all through the U.S. This pressure has additionally been detected in 15 mammalian species together with scavenging carnivores equivalent to coyotes, foxes and skunks which have seemingly ate up contaminated birds “.
How does this flu unfold? Infected birds can shed this virus of their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds can then get contaminated after contact with the virus. New victims can even get contaminated by contact with contaminated surfaces.
Researchers found avian flu virus can persist in water, exterior the physique of an animal. Tested viruses usually have been most secure at a barely basic pH, with water temperatures of lower than 63 levels Fahrenheit. The virus does greatest in contemporary or barely brackish water. Not the open ocean then, however the lakes, marshes, streams and wetlands of the Willamette Valley are hospitable to avian flu virus.
So this fall and winter is usually a unhealthy time for avian flu. Geese and different waterfowl at the moment are in dense flocks. As we noticed with Covid, proximity of infectable animals makes the illness unfold sooner. Sharing a pool with a single contaminated chook can unfold the illness to others.
If you discover a useless or sick chook, don’t contact it. ODFW asks individuals to report teams of sick or useless wild birds to the Wildlife Health lab at 866-968-2600 or at [email protected].
For a worldwide perspective, go to
For details about upcoming Salem Audubon applications and actions, see www.salemaudubon.org, or Salem Audubon’s Facebook page.
Harry Fuller is an Oregon birder and pure historical past writer of “Freeway Birding” and the newly-published “Birding Harney County.” He is a member of the Salem Audubon Society. Contact him at [email protected] or atowhee.blog. His “Some Fascinating Things About Birds” column seems often in Salem Reporter.
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Harry Fuller is an Oregon birder and pure historical past writer of three books: “Freeway Birding,” “Great Gray Owls of California, Oregon and Washington,” and “San Francisco’s Natural History–Sand Dunes to Streetcars.” He leads birding journeys for the Malheur Field Station. He is a member of the Salem Audubon Society, and leads chook journeys regionally. Harry has simply revealed a brand new guide, BIrding Harney County.
