Islanders asked not to put out bird feeders to prevent avian flu spread
The Nature Conservancy of Canada says Islanders who care for his or her feathered pals could must put their chook feeders away this spring.
About 20 circumstances of avian flu have been found in P.E.I. in 2022. Different circumstances have cropped up in Atlantic Canada and throughout the nation.
The Nature Conservancy says it’s involved and is advising folks dwelling in areas the place there have been circumstances to not put chook feeders out so as to cut back the variety of locations the place an outbreak can occur.
“They have been found in blue jay populations in Nova Scotia,” mentioned spokesperson Andrew Holland. “Elsewhere … it has been present in bald eagles on Prince Edward Island. So, yeah, there’s completely different birds which are getting sick.
“It’s one thing that jurisdictions must keep watch over and monitor. However within the meantime … in areas the place there are documented circumstances, it is actually useful that individuals can quickly take away their chook feeders.”
The virus can unfold to all types of birds, although wild waterfowl are extra inclined. It could possibly additionally unfold to people, however the threat is low.
“It is no completely different from us having COVID, I suppose,” mentioned Holland. “It is extremely contagious. Folks needs to be vigilant and report any type of sick, useless or dying birds of their respective provinces.”
In P.E.I., sick or dying wild birds needs to be reported to Fisheries and Wildlife at 902-368-4683. Sick or dying home birds needs to be reported to a veterinarian.
Security suggestions
Whereas avian flu is one factor to observe for, there are different components that make chook migration removed from protected.
The Nature Conservancy says Canada and the U.S. have misplaced billions of birds over the previous 50 years resulting from components equivalent to local weather change and habitat loss.
Holland mentioned there are issues folks can do to make migration safer, equivalent to making their home windows “bird-safe” so as to stop them from crashing into their houses.
One other factor to be careful for is predation from pets, notably cats.
“What we need to encourage folks to do is preserve your cats indoors, plain and easy,” Holland mentioned.
“Another choice — and also you see an increasing number of of it: prepare your cat to stroll on a leash.”
Holland mentioned doing this stuff could not appear to be a lot to some folks, however they make a distinction.
