does anyone have a sense of how much risk is associated with feeding wild birds via a feeder and store bought seed ?
we have many species that come to eat: woodpeckers, cardinals, finches, etc.
of course, if I see them dropping dead .. no more seed - and the deck would get a good bleach wash.
but how dangerous is feeding them now ? seems like its mostly ducks and geese that are spreading H5N1
not dangerous… high path, well appearing is mostly an issue with ducks.
What about “tame” ducks-i.e.- those at amny city parks?
I don’t even want to walk where ducks and geese have been fouling the grass.
And seeing people bringing their toddlers in to feed the waterfowl - ! -when is the public education going to ramp up??.
As well as xanax’es crowd, my eight bird feeders including two bags of beef suet attract a gazillion wild turkeys and crows and ravens. I’m a bit more concerned about the latter guys(corvids). I guess that i’ll keep feeding them until HP-H5N1 is indisputably here in New England &/or I can no longer buy grain/have used up my prep-bird-grain/am SIP’ed. The cats will go bonkers when they can’t go outside. I haven’t actually seen them catch a bird yet though, briefly a chipmuck, but no birds.-- they’re oldsters.
I know I’m NUTS to be even feeding them now. Maybe I’ll gradually(very) take away a feeder at a time. It’ll actually be better for the birds if they’re not congregating closely… at least that’s what I’ll tell myself. ;-(
Lots of great info here!
USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza >>> http://tinyurl.com/ycbav7 --- (Page Last Modified: Nov 27, 2006)
List of Species Affected by H5N1 (Avian Influenza) --- Referenced reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wildlife and domestic animals >>> http://tinyurl.com/fbbdu ( Page Last Modified: Nov 07, 2006)
sorry, it’s xamax - not xanax!
so where are the canids in the above list?
CDC --- Volume 12, Number 11–November 2006 Fatal Avian Influenza A H5N1 in a Dog >>> http://tinyurl.com/yxjj5s
and this: H5N1 in Dogs and Cats --- Recombinomics Commentary, February 14, 2006 >>> http://tinyurl.com/ss2we
Don’t forget the Flu Wiki Species shown to be infected by H5N1
(gee, the index still needs work, if I want to avoid some more of my stuff on this side of the keyboard)
FAO Special Report that could have been titled H5N1 and Mammals…
…”Recommendations: Areas where H5N1 HPAI has been diagnosed or is suspected in poultry or wild birds:
Report to the local veterinary authority any evidence of significant bird mortality both wild and domestic
Be especially vigilant for any dead or sick cats and report such findings to the local vet
Make sure contact between cats and wild birds or poultry (or their faeces) is avoided and/or keep cats inside
If cats bring a sick or dead bird inside the house, put on plastic gloves and dispense of the bird in plastic bags for collection by local veterinary animal handlers
Keep stray cats outside the house and avoid contact with them
If cats show breathing problems or nasal discharge, a veterinarian should be consulted
Do not touch or handle any sick-looking or dead cat (or other animal) and report to the authorities
Wash hands with water and soap regularly and especially after handling animals and cleaning their litter boxes or coming in contact with faeces or saliva
Dogs can only be taken outside the premises if kept on restraint
Do not feed any water birds
Disinfect (e.g. with bleach 2–3 %) cages or other hardware with which sick animals have been transported or been in contact with.
Wash animal blankets with soap or any other commercial detergent”…
So, maybe “Disinfect (e.g. with bleach 2–3 %) cages or other hardware” -like your birdfeeders, or, make sure you don’t touch your face until you disinfect your hands after filling the feeders, and might not want to track shoes through the house (though I am not having trays to step in for shoe disinfection. Not yet).
I wonder if they local officials are actually ready to do any testing if anyone did find sick or dead birds and tried to report it. Or, wanted to bring sick cats and dogs to the vet…
What about the places abroad that wanted to preemptively get rid of their city pigeons and sparrows and caused the very public concern they were trying to circumvent? (when the masses of dead and dying poisoned birds scared the public that H5N1 was in town) Bet we’ll see repeats of those sorts of things.
What do places that have feral dogs and cats, or too many year-round wild ducks and geese plan to do?