TO FEED OR NOT TO FEED THE BIRDS - THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION
Recently Dr. Victoria Hall, Director at the Minnesota Raptor Center, asked the public to remove their bird feeders for a month or two as a precaution in preventing the spread of the avian flu. Currently there is zero evidence that the flu has spread to songbirds but according to Dr. Hall "because the science is unclear on the role of songbirds in this current H5N1 outbreak, one consideration is to not encourage birds to gather at places such as bird feeders or bird baths."
Dr. Hall also had this to say on the Raptor Center Facebook Page
Convincing the public to not feed birds, especially during spring migration, is next to impossible. Many people say they are willing to remove their feeders if there's evidence the avian flu spread to songbirds but one has to wonder how true that is for some. Consider chronic wasting disease (CWD). Even though people are aware that the state is struggling to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease it didn't stop everyone from feeding the deer so the DNR had to issue a ban on feeding and attractants in certain counties plus threaten a $275 fine, and even with that the DNR spent a good deal of time this past winter fielding complaints about residents feeding deer despite the ban.
The problem for some when it comes to wildlife is pleasure trumps precaution for a lot of people. We all enjoy seeing wildlife in our yards so many people ignore the warnings and choose instead to rationalize why feeding is necessary despite what they are told. The Director of the Raptor Center in this case is asking for feeders to be pulled for just one or two months this spring. She didn't ask that they be pulled permanently and removing feeders for a month or two won't cause a major decline of songbirds, but not removing them possibly could if they do contract and become ill from H5N1. The removal of feeders is a precautionary step we are all being asked to take that could help songbirds and other avian species in the long run.
If you find that you can't stop ruminating over the belief that migratory birds will suffer irreparable harm because you stopped feeding them for a month or two this spring, please consider the following.
Many diseases are spread at bird feeders because birds come in close contact. The following are the most common diseases spread at feeders.
1. Salmonellosis
2. Trichomoniasis
3. Avian Pox
On April 4th, 2022 - Kare 11 News - Dr. Hall stated "in 2015 we had a lot of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, but it was mostly in commercial poultry operations. We did not see this level in wildlife. We didn't have a single case here at the Raptor Center and we've already seen seven in our first couple days of testing here. So very, very different and we're seeing a lot more illness and suffering in these guys when they catch it."
Dr. Hall also said the following: