Biologist Paule Hjertaas considers himself an avid birder and often regularly admires various birds. But April 8 was a different story
“At first we thought it was poisoning,” Hertaas said. “When we got home, my husband called a conservation officer and they mentioned that there was probably a case of bird flu.
Herthas returned to the same spot on April 12 and found several dead birds on a stretch of road where they parked.
“I assumed the birds had been there for some time,” Hertas said. “And that’s why there were so many of them.”
The other day she decided to shoot a goose that was so disoriented that she could barely walk and struggled to fly.
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“It was obvious that the bird had neurological problems and that bird was flying, but he was just as disoriented to fly as he was on the ground. The flight was very erratic. “
Avian influenza is an influenza virus that is specific to birds. They are known to carry these viruses naturally, as many different strains are always circulating. But provincial wildlife health expert Iga Stasiak said it was a new strain of what is known as H5N1.
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“It’s very different,” Stasiak said. “This is causing wider mortality in our wild bird populations.”
Bonnie Dell, president of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Society, was not surprised that bird flu broke out in the countryside, but was shocked to see how quickly it began to spread.
“I personally note that I took down my bird feeders,” Dell said. “I do not want to encourage the collection of birds and I hope more people will do so. This is a small way to help. The ministry also offers to disinfect your bird feeders regularly.
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“I don’t think there are enough precautions we can take to help the bird population.”
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Dell said that if anyone saw a struggling bird, call the 911 Wildlife Hotline at (306) 242-7177. Dell said they are currently dealing with each case.
If someone notices a dead bird in their yard, experts always recommend that you call the inquiry line of the Ministry of Environment. But if you decide to dispose of the bird yourself, the ministry advises wearing a mask along with disposable gloves while the bird is placed in a double envelope. When the bag is discarded, the mask and disposable gloves should be discarded. The last step is to disinfect the area with a 10 percent bleach solution to stop the virus from spreading.
“If you come across a large flock that is dead or fighting,” Dell said, “don’t come near it, don’t try to go in and clean a big place where there are a lot of dead birds. It depends on the professionals. “
Dell said that just by entering the area or by driving, the virus can spread back to your home, past neighboring farms, because when a person leaves, he is already on the tires and shoes of his car. He is highly infected.
“There have been no reports of people spreading or crossing species,” Dell said. “But this cannot be ruled out; this is COVID for birds. We still don’t know much about that. “
Dell said the main concern was endangered birds in the province. She said that species such as donkey cranes and capercaillies, which are critically endangered, may not recover from a virus like this, and for her this is a horrifying thought.
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Stasiak, the provincial wildlife health specialist, said the strain of avian influenza was causing the worst outbreak the province had seen in seven years. What can be done to help the birds through this outbreak is limited, Stasiak said, but there is one thing that can be done.
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“We certainly don’t want to promote congregation or artificial gathering among wild birds,” Stasiak said. “Especially waterfowl, so things like waterfowl feeding and similar practices are not recommended right now.”
If you notice a sick or dead bird, do not approach it. Leave it to the experts. Call the Department of Environment’s inquiry line at 1-800-567-4224 or the Canadian Wildlife Protection Cooperative at 306-966-5815.
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