State asks Illinois residents to put bird feeders, bird baths away. Here's why

Ken DeCoster, Rockford Register Star
·2 min read
A male Cardinal eats a snack from a feeder by the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center, at Eagle Creek Park, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.
A male Cardinal eats a snack from a feeder by the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center, at Eagle Creek Park, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.

ROCKFORD — People should discontinue the use of bird feeders and bird baths until the end of May due to an influenza strain that is impacting wild and domestic birds, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said.

The strain is called EA H5N1, which is a highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Infections from the strain are on the rise, especially in waterfowl, throughout the Midwest, the Department of Natural Resources said.

Wild birds will have ample food sources during spring while bird feeders are unavailable.

The agency is also recommending:

  • Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a dilute bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean on a weekly basis if they can’t be moved away from birds.

  • Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife.

  • Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.

If five or more deceased wild birds are spotted in one location, contact the Department of Natural Resources at https://www/wildlifeillinois.org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/.

The Winnebago County Health Department issued the following statement regarding avian influenza:

“We have been advised by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to halt the use of bird feeders and bird baths through May 31 to help stop the spread of H5N1 bird flu among domestic and wild birds. While avian influenza is currently a risk to birds throughout the Midwest, including in Illinois and Winnebago County, the Illinois Department of Public Health believes that the risk to people’s health from current H5N1 bird flu viruses is low.

"Some people may have job-related or recreational exposures to birds that may place them at higher risk of infection. The Winnebago County Health Department with the Illinois Department of Public Health and other State partners continue to monitor for human cases of any avian influenza, including the current H5N1.”

As of Friday, the strain has not been detected in any songbird species.

Ken DeCoster: kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: State asks Illinois residents to put bird feeders, bird baths away