The BC SPCA has issued a notice asking people to remove bird feeders due to outbreaks of bird flu in the province.
The SPCA says on its website that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is spreading in the countryside, so people need to remove bird feeders and empty bird baths.
“Wild birds play a key role in the spread of HPAI. Although waterfowl (including ducks, geese and gulls) and birds of prey (eagles, hawks and owls) are at the highest risk, avian influenza viruses can infect all species of birds, the SPCA website said.
“The virus is excreted from infected birds through feces and respiratory secretions and is very resistant – the virus can survive in the environment for several months and continue to infect other birds!”
READ MORE: Two more flocks test positive for bird flu in Kelowna, Richmond
Bird feeders attract birds, and the SPCA says seeds that fall to the ground can also spread disease.
“[W]”Poultry hens feed on the ground, they are also exposed to feces that accumulate under the feeder,” said the BC SPCA. “The availability of bird feeders and baths can also increase the risk of transmitting the virus between close animals such as chickens or turkeys in the backyard.
People are asked to watch out for signs of sick birds that may appear lethargic, unusually “swollen”, have nasal secretions, or have excessive tearing or swelling of the head and eyelids.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, signs of bird flu include:
- decline in egg production, many of which have a soft shell or no shell
- diarrhea
- hemorrhagic hemorrhages
- high and sudden mortality
- silence and severe depression
- swelling of the skin under the eyes
- the rods and combs become swollen and clogged
You can contact the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722 for advice on sick birds or to help find a local wildlife rehabilitation center.
Observations of sick or dead wild birds must be reported to the Canadian Wildlife Health Association (CWHC) at 1-800-567-2033.
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