Does bird flu make it unsafe to feed wild birds? - A bird flu update (March 2025)
People are worried, and I understand that worry. Let's talk about where the concern should be placed and where we can still feel secure enjoying our birds.
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Are you still feeding birds?
Yes
No
I do not feed birds
Why is bird flu in the news?
Bird flu (HPAI) is in the news. Everywhere. Dieoffs in poultry farms, Sandhill Crane flocks, beloved eagles, geese falling out of the sky (it's almost like the sky is literally falling); if you name it, it likely has been a headline surrounding this recent surge in HPAI infections. This flurry of news coverage is due to the rise in reports of both wild birds and domestic flocks. However, the increase in coverage can also be blamed on the uptick in infections of humans, dairy cows, and large predators (big cats, especially).
The constant stream of news surrounding HPAI may decrease as waterfowl migrate north. Still, with the virus fully entrenched in the North American landscape, poultry stock will likely continue to be impacted. The consequences of the food supply infections impact Americans and Canadians enough that we will continue to see headlines popping up. When eggs and chicken prices recover from the supply squeeze, I hope (and believe) the whirlwind will calm.
On the wild bird side, large flocks of migratory waterfowl and cranes have seen mass infections lead to mass mortality events. The sudden and extensive mortalities of charismatic species like Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, and Snow Geese have been seen and felt. Stumbling upon a large flock of dead and dying birds can be jarring. As in previous years, we may continue to see substantial mortality events until birds have migrated and dispersed from their winter-sized flocks. When these birds pair up and separate, the transmission of the virus slows significantly.
Until these events begin to lag, I expect bird flu to remain a headline in your life. Headlines may simmer this summer, but by next fall and winter, things may start cooking (in a bad way) again.
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How does bird flu affect my life?
If you live in North America, you already know. Egg prices and shortages have been front and center in every grocery store. Without my scramby eggs, I have become a real grump. Poultry prices have also skyrocketed, with chicken seeing price gains of over 100% in the past year. And when Southern fried chicken requires a payday loan, the world has gone astray. Commercial and backyard flocks have been infected in 35 states, though some backyard flocks may have slipped through biosecurity testing measures. However, with almost 13 million domestic birds infected and culled, we have seen nearly over 1% of US poultry removed from production (with egg production being worst hit).
Dairy products have also been affected, though not at the poultry scale. Infected dairy cows may be culled from herds or separated from production. While the scale is not as alarming, dairy products may still see pricing effects from infections or the risk of infections. While only 17 states have seen cattle infected, there have been 978 confirmed cases.
Finally, there is the unlikely scenario of human infection. The risk of bird flu infection to most people is near zero. However, if you keep backyard flocks, work in domestic poultry, or work with wildlife, your risk is increased. Wearing PPE and upping your sanitization efforts would be a wise decision. Otherwise, bird flu is unlikely to be a direct health concern to most people.
Has bird flu impacted you already? Yes. Is it likely to continue affecting your daily life? If you want a breakfast sandwich, cheese, or some chicken cordon bleu, also yes. But beyond outrageous food prices, bird flu should not be on your top ten list of things to worry about.
If you're going to feed birds, use my favorite feeder!
Is it safe to feed wild birds while bird flu is active in my area?
This is why most of you clicked on this article. You want to know if you can safely and ethically continue to feed wild backyard birds.
The short answer is yes. It is safe to continue feeding wild birds at bird feeders. Most feeder birds are not at risk from bird flu infections, and those that are at slight risk are unlikely to catch or pass the virus at/around bird feeders.
For the long answer...
If you have backyard poultry, all agencies and many conservation groups recommend removing feeders during this time. OR, if you have waterfowl visiting your feeders, there is also a strong recommendation to remove bird feeders. And those feeding ducks and geese at a local park, please cease and desist until HPAI cases have decreased (or maybe forever since most duck pond feeders provide garbage food).
Feeding backyard birds continues to be safe in most scenarios. If you fall into one of the two categories mentioned that is at risk, please consider removing your feeders until the virus has moved on.
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Continuing with bird flu
Bird flu will continue to cycle through North America for years to come. It is part of the avian landscape, and it is unlikely to be eradicated by human efforts. Wild bird species will develop some forms of immunity against the virus. Still, we can expect a few more cycles of this virus to impact our lives. More wild birds will see newsworthy mortality events, and some wild bird populations will experience detrimental impacts. We can still be hopeful, as a considerable number of species afflicted by bird flu should recover in time.
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