Are bird feeders harmless to the animals or deadly? Experts disagree

Fowl specialists in Atlantic Canada are break up on whether or not placing out yard hen feeders over the winter is innocent or probably lethal to birds given the chance of avian flu.

Bob Bancroft, the president of Nature Nova Scotia, mentioned in an interview that he understands the love many Atlantic Canadians have for birds, however he says to be able to shield them from probably deadly ailments, feeders shouldn’t be used.

“I really feel strongly that in case you’re actually fascinated about the welfare of the birds, there’s a large downside with feeding them within the winter,” Bancroft mentioned, noting that salmonella, trichinosis and avian influenza can unfold the place birds congregate to eat.

The H5N1 avian flu first appeared in Newfoundland final December, when it was confirmed at a farm within the St. John’s space. Officers mentioned on the time it was the primary detection of the virus in Canada since 2015. It has since been present in wild birds and on dozens of poultry farms throughout the nation, though the Canadian Meals Inspection Company at the moment lists no amenities in Atlantic Canada as contaminated.

Provinces advise in opposition to hen feeders

The Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador governments have all issued statements over the previous 12 months advising residents to keep away from feeding birds. Bancroft mentioned the provinces had been proper to supply this recommendation, and that New Brunswickers ought to keep away from feeders as effectively as a result of the chance of transmission exists throughout the area.

Elizabeth Walsh, a regional biologist with Nova Scotia’s Division of Pure Sources, mentioned in an interview Thursday that the province continues to advise in opposition to using hen feeders. Walsh mentioned taking down hen feeders is a method for residents to assist Nova Scotia’s efforts in “making an attempt to do the whole lot in our energy to stop additional unfold” of the extremely pathogenic H5N1 pressure of avian influenza

In Nova Scotia, there have been greater than 3,700 useless or sick birds reported to the province this 12 months, and there have been 23 confirmed circumstances of H5N1 avian influenza, Walsh mentioned. The biologist mentioned she does not know the way most of the sick or useless birds have been examined for avian flu — however she famous that analysis takes time because it requires a PCR check adopted by affirmation testing at a laboratory in Winnipeg.

Walsh mentioned the 23 confirmed avian flu circumstances in Nova Scotia are principally in seabirds, however they’ve additionally been recognized in blue jays, crows and pigeons.

Ian Jones, a biology professor with Memorial College in St. John’s, who focuses on hen conservation, disagrees that hen feeders pose a big danger of avian flu transmission in Atlantic Canada. He mentioned that as a result of avian flu largely impacts waterfowl and poultry, most yard hen feeders are at an especially low danger of spreading the illness.

“How are a few dark-eyed juncos and chickadees coming to a hen feeder one way or the other going to be an issue for extremely pathogenic avian influenza? And the reply is, scientifically, it is not,” Jones mentioned in an interview.

“Authorities’s suggestion to take down hen feeders is scientifically ludicrous,” he mentioned.

Landfills an even bigger danger, biology prof says

Jones mentioned landfills are a a lot better danger to avian illness in comparison with yard feeders, and if provinces are involved about wild hen well being they need to guarantee landfills are lined and secured.

“Landfills with uncovered rubbish — it is like a large hen feeder which, I consider, is in impact a large avian flu super-spreader,” he mentioned. Jones mentioned open landfills appeal to starlings, crows, gulls and different scavenging birds that may simply transmit ailments.

Vanessa Roy-MacDougall, the chief director of Nature New Brunswick, mentioned that so long as folks take excellent care of their feeders with common cleansing and monitoring, feeders are OK to make use of within the winter. Feeders must be scrubbed weekly with a vinegar and bleach answer, she mentioned.

“The factor to do is preserve it clear and keep watch over the birds in case there’s some form of bizarre behaviour,” Roy-MacDougall mentioned Wednesday.

If a hen lets you strategy it or is performing torpid, that may very well be an indication of avian influenza and would imply the feeder must be eliminated and the sick hen must be reported to the province.

Fiep de Bie, a Prince Edward Island-based wildlife technician with the Canadian Wildlife Well being Cooperative, discourages using yard hen feeders, noting that any danger to birds’ well being is price avoiding.

“Avian influenza is probably not an enormous risk at hen feeders, however anyplace the place birds are congregating there’s a danger of illness unfold,” she mentioned in an interview.

Bancroft means that as an alternative of feeders, hen lovers ought to work on creating a really perfect pure atmosphere for birds. He mentioned one of the best ways to do that is by planting any berry or fruit-bearing bushes or bushes.

“I planted one excessive bush cranberry, and birds are everywhere right here,” Bancroft mentioned.