Bird flu? - Ask Extension
We have found numerous dead wild birds (finches, robins) in our neighborhood recently. Today I was checking a robin nest in a small tree next to our h...
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Bird flu? #870423
Asked May 28, 2024, 1:07 PM EDT
We have found numerous dead wild birds (finches, robins) in our neighborhood recently. Today I was checking a robin nest in a small tree next to our house. The 4 nestlings were gone. The adult robin was upside down in the tree branch next to nest. Did not appear to be wounded. I have
In the last couple weeks, I Picked up several small finches and a swallow that looked perfectly intact, even warm, but dead. Could this be bird flu?
Berrien County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello there,
Bird flue doesn't normally effect song birds in this dramatic of a way, and is generally considered to be non-leathel to songbirds and more effects waterfowl, upland game birds, raptors and mostly domestic poultry. With that said the disease is a virus that changes over time.
There is a chance this could have been caused by a pollutant in your area, or by a pesticide being misapplied. Or perhaps it is a different disease in your area. Or maybe even weather related. I couldn't really say what could be going on here.
With that said you can report these bird deaths to the Michigan DNR. You can learn more about reporting here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza/report-sick-or-dead-birds
You can learn more about avian influenza (aka bird flu) here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza
And more about how it effects song birds and what birds are most impacted here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/avian-influenza-outbreak-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders/#
Bird flue doesn't normally effect song birds in this dramatic of a way, and is generally considered to be non-leathel to songbirds and more effects waterfowl, upland game birds, raptors and mostly domestic poultry. With that said the disease is a virus that changes over time.
There is a chance this could have been caused by a pollutant in your area, or by a pesticide being misapplied. Or perhaps it is a different disease in your area. Or maybe even weather related. I couldn't really say what could be going on here.
With that said you can report these bird deaths to the Michigan DNR. You can learn more about reporting here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza/report-sick-or-dead-birds
You can learn more about avian influenza (aka bird flu) here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/diseases/avian/avian-influenza
And more about how it effects song birds and what birds are most impacted here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/avian-influenza-outbreak-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders/#
