Three hundred deceased wild birds found in five counties
By Barb Pert Templeton
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recently sampled dead wild birds suspected to be positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at multiple locations across Lower Michigan. The DNR’s ongoing disease surveillance indicates that HPAI is widespread in wild bird populations throughout the state.
HPAI is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes sickness and sometimes death in birds and mammals. The virus spreads through fecal droppings or nasal discharge of an infected bird, which contaminates the environment.
In a phone interview on Feb. 14 DNR Wildlife Health Supervisor Mitch Marcus said the flu pops up in the birds at various times during the year. For example, in 2022 there was activity from March until June and then it didn’t turn up again until the fall.
Marcus said any bird can be exposed to the flu but a majority seem to be in the water fowl family like geese, ducks and swans. There have also been some reports of owls and eagles getting ill as well.
The DNR’s ongoing disease surveillance indicates that HPAI is widespread in wild bird populations throughout the state.
The signs for a wild bird having the flu can include difficulty walking, standing or flying, a head that’s in an abnormal position, sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge. Some of the bird afflicted also have bouts of diarrhea.
Marcus said residents are asked to keep an eye out for sick or dead birds and to call the state and report any found on their property.
For those who hang bird feeders on their property to attract the wild birds, if a dead species is found in their yard, they should take down the feeders and do a thorough cleaning before putting them back in place, Marcus added.
Dead bird count
In a very detailed press release, the DNR reports that so far this year, more than 300 dead wild birds have been discovered in five counties.
DNR staffers collected 77 dead Canada geese and one dead mallard from the Fennville Farm Unit at Allegan State Game Area in Allegan County. More than 80 dead Canada geese were reported along the Shiawassee River near Owosso in Shiawassee County. About 25 dead Canada geese were reported at Williamston Lakes in Ingham County, and another 20 dead birds were reported along the Grand River in Grand Ledge in Eaton County. About 100 dead birds were reported in Washtenaw County.
“If you find a dead wild bird, you should leave it alone; however, if you need to remove it, do not touch it with your bare hands. You should wear gloves and other personal protective equipment. The best advice we can give is to treat every wild bird as though it has a disease.”
DNR Wildlife Health Supervisor Mitch Marcus
Samples collected from the Allegan State Game Area, Shiawassee River, Williamston Lakes and Washtenaw County sites were sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory in East Lansing for testing. Preliminary results indicate avian influenza is suspected.
When an avian influenza virus is detected, the samples are forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing, which can take weeks to months to complete. The national laboratory will test for, confirm and identify any highly pathogenic strains of an avian influenza virus.
Confirmed positive cases are posted on the DNR webpage. However, HPAI is widespread in wild birds throughout Michigan. Even if a county does not have a confirmed case listed, HPAI could still be present.
If you observe a die-off of six or more wild birds, report it the DNR. You can also report wild birds or other wild animals that appear sick.
Leave dead wild birds alone
Dead wild birds should be left to naturally decompose if they are in an area where it is difficult to get to them, or where people and domestic animals will not have contact with them. A fresh carcass can spread disease, but as the animal decomposes, the virus will die.
“If you find a dead wild bird, you should leave it alone; however, if you need to remove it, do not touch it with your bare hands. You should wear gloves and other personal protective equipment,” Marcus said. “The best advice we can give is to treat every wild bird as though it has a disease.”
HPAI cannot be detected without testing. Some birds are carriers of the virus, but are healthy and may never get sick, even though they can spread the disease.
DNR continues wildlife disease surveillance
“Since the initial outbreak in 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza — commonly known as bird flu — has been found in wild birds throughout the U.S., so we expect to see continuing cases of HPAI affecting Michigan’s wildlife,” said Sara Thompson, DNR Wildlife Division chief. “The DNR will continue appropriate surveillance efforts, prioritizing birds found in large mortality events, raptors and wild mammals.”
Kaitlyn Barnes, DNR wildlife biologist and acting waterfowl specialist, said the DNR does not anticipate serious impacts to Michigan’s duck, goose or swan populations.
“The populations immediately near the sites with positive test results could see a decline, but there should not be impacts to the statewide population,” Barnes said.
This HPAI strain has killed numerous bald eagles and colony nesting birds like terns and cormorants. It is too early to determine whether this outbreak will result in population-level effects, but research is ongoing.
