People With Bird Feeders Keep An Eye On Songbirds For Avian Flu

Sunday, May 1st, 2022 -- 7:23 AM

The Department of Natural Resources is reminding people who have bird feeders to keep an eye on their local songbirds as avian flu spreads across the Midwest.

Wildlife veterinarian Lindsay Long says that most people can keep their feeders out, but try to limit contact between waterfowl and songbirds. "So if they're along lakes or have ponds, that might be a good idea to take down their bird feeders, because we don't want those groups mixing together at a feeding site." Long says you want to keep those clean and tidy for your feathered friends. "So removing all feed removing fecal material, and watching bird feeders regularly, like once a week or once every other week is always a good recommendation to follow."

Long says that it's okay to have your bird feeders out, so long as you're taking care of them. "The big thing is trying to make make sure that those bird feeders and birdbaths too, are clean and disinfected so that we try to minimize any introduction of diseases that might occur." If you see wild waterfowl like ducks and geese and your feeders, it's a good idea to bring them in, for now, to keep the flu from spreading.

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