This is a pretty simple request from the Raptor Center as passed along by Jim Williams. I would count them as ornithologists, wouldn't you?. Since birds get very little of their three squares from our feeders, dumping out the feeders now won't affect them in the least. Isn't it better to err on the side of caution and not spread this disease knowingly.
Not finding dead birds is not a good indicator of their mortality numbers anyway. A dead B.C. Chickadee or D.E. Junco in your flower bed wouldn't even be noticed except by a hungry opossum, racoon, or coyote. Much easier to count (and see) a dead crow or owl, especially with all the attention an owl nest gets this time of year. If we birders do our part, take down our feeders and bird baths, maybe by July this will be over and we'll be seeing the fledglings. My nickel's worth. Steve Slocum at Crow's Nest in Eden Prairie, MN On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 1:09 PM Tom Gilde < [email protected]> wrote: > I’m hoping that the ornithologists will weigh in. I’m planning to run out > the rest of the sunflower seed in our feeder and then not refill until late > June, approximately. What I’ve read suggests that avian flu is principally > spreading via waterfowl and that raptors which come in contact with them > also potentially become another vector. The late June timeframe also is > based on what I’ve read - that the flu dissipates in the summer. I imagine > that crows could also become vectors if they eat infected carrion. I’m > hoping that most songbirds are relatively less likely to be exposed but > I’ll take down the feeder for the present. Would definitely like to hear > from a professional. > > Tom Gilde > > > On Apr 15, 2022, at 12:56 PM, Steve Weston <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > thanks. I stand corrected. > > Steve Weston > > On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN > > [email protected] > > > > > > < > http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > > > > Virus-free. > > www.avg.com > > < > http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > > > > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > > >> On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 12:54 PM Karen Olsen < > >> [email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> There has been one crow in MN that tested positive at the beginning of > >> April > >> > >> Karen > >> > >>> On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 12:49 PM Steve Weston <[email protected]> > wrote: > >>> > >>> I have heard the call to take down bird feeders and I have responded > >>> marginally. So far, the only report of any backyard birds being found > >>> infected has been a Blue Jay in Nova Scotia. I do not get any > >> congregation > >>> of birds on my feeders, so I haven't responded because of that. I do > have > >>> one feeder that because of its proximity to a Wood Duck box, does > >>> occasionally have the ducks perch on it. That feeder is empty and will > >> not > >>> at this time be refilled. > >>> Steve Weston > >>> On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN > >>> [email protected] > >>> > >>> > >>> < > >>> > >> > http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > >>>> > >>> Virus-free. > >>> www.avg.com > >>> < > >>> > >> > http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail > >>>> > >>> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > >>> > >>> On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 12:17 PM Susan Gilmore <[email protected]> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >>>> MOU, > >>>> > >>>> Last night on the local news there were stories suggesting people take > >>>> down their bird feeders and remove their bird baths to stop the spread > >> of > >>>> the avian influenza. Is this a suggestion the MOU supports? > >>>> > >>>> On another note we had a pair of Ruby-Crowned Kinglets and a pair of > >>>> Golden-Crowned Kinglets in our Golden Valley backyard maple bushes for > >>> the > >>>> last 2 days! > >>>> > >>>> Thank you! > >>>> > >>>> Susan > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Susan Gilmore > >>>> [email protected] > >>>> 612-382-1171 > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> ---- > >>>> General information and guidelines for posting: > >>>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > >>>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > >>>> > >>>> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > >> social > >>>> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > >>>> > >>> > >>> ---- > >>> General information and guidelines for posting: > >>> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > >>> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > >>> > >>> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social > >>> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > >>> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Karen Olsen > >> (She/Her/Hers) > >> Health Care Mgr 2-Clin Lab Science > >> Section Manager-Bacteriology > >> University of Minnesota > >> Veterinary Diagnostic Lab > >> 1333 Gortner Ave > >> St. Paul, MN 55108 > >> 612-625-1298 > >> Website <https://www.vdl.umn.edu/> > >> > >> > >> Confidentiality Notice: This message, together with any attachments, is > >> intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is > >> addressed and may contain confidential or privileged information. If you > >> think you have received this message in error, please advise the sender > and > >> then delete this message and any attachments immediately. > >> > >> ---- > >> General information and guidelines for posting: > >> https://moumn.org/listservice.html > >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > >> > >> During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social > >> distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > >> > > > > ---- > > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice > social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > > ---- > General information and guidelines for posting: > https://moumn.org/listservice.html > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social > distancing, and continue to bird responsibly. > ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
