Jeanette Gibson outdoors column: The empty bird feeders

It’s only been a few days, but I am already missing the flutter and flurry of wings out in the Nature Center.

Due to the current outbreak of avian influenza, my bird feeders and bird baths are currently empty.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has recently sent out a press release admonishing that we discontinue filling bird feeders and bird baths through the end of May, or until the current Midwest infection rate of H5N1 subsides.

Several counties in Illinois have suffered the devastating loss of wild birds due to the H5N1 virus.

H5N1 is a type A influenza virus that spreads between both wild and domesticated birds. This respiratory virus is spread by saliva, nasal secretions and feces.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was detected back in December of 2021 in Canada. It has spread across the continent since that time, showing up in wild birds, commercial poultry facilities and even backyard flocks in Canada and the United States.

Although the deadly H5N1 virus has not been detected in the songbird population, wildlife biologists want to keep it that way, if at all possible.

The Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research reports that this years outbreak of “bird flu” is unique due to very high levels of H5N1 circulating in wildlife.

This virus is considered “highly pathogenic”, meaning it will produce illness and death in the chicken, turkey and raptor populations.

While migratory water birds such as ducks and geese can carry the H5N1 virus and have few to no symptoms, other birds including cormorants, chickens, turkeys, owls, eagles and hawks often fall severely ill and die from the virus.

What used to be considered “tornado alley” from Kansas northward through North Dakota have been hit especially hard.

With the start of the 2022 spring turkey season here in Illinois, there is understandable concern over wild turkey numbers being affected due to the H5N1 virus.

Considering that we are still in the midst of the spring migration, wildlife biologists are taking this threat to both wild and domestic birds very seriously - thus the recommendation to discontinue bird feeder filling - for now.

In the meantime, we are afforded the opportunity to thoroughly clean and rearrange our bird feeding areas while we wait for the H5N1 virus to subside.

Washing your bird feeders and bird baths with a warm soapy water solution containing a little bleach and letting them air dry is recommended.

Now would be the perfect time to consider adding some new decorative items to your bird feeding areas and the local Garden Centers are chock full of items sure to liven up the space until we can feed those wild birds once again.

So far, the robins, grackles and blue jays don’t seem to mind that the feeders are empty. I hear them singing in the trees in the back yard and scurrying across the grass. It seems that there is plenty of other food for them in the yard.

This article originally appeared on Star Courier: Jeanette Gibson outdoors column: The empty bird feeders