Wild Birds and Avian Influenza
Avian influenza viruses are typically found in wild birds, especially waterfowl and shorebirds. The virus is only found in a small number of birds in the wild, and generally does not cause clinical signs of disease. The virus is shed in fecal droppings, saliva and nasal discharges. Worldwide, there have been a number of reports of highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) infecting and causing death in wild birds, including migratory species. The spread of the H5N1 virus to new geographical areas in Asia and also into Europe and Africa has caused concern about the possibility that the H5N1 virus could be carried into North America by migratory birds. Due to these concerns various government agencies have begun surveillance and testing of wild bird populations. Because of the potential exposure of birds from North America with birds from Asia while sharing summer breeding grounds in Alaska and Siberia, initial surveillance activities have mainly targeted sampling wild bird populations in Alaska. Too date, the HPAI H5N1 “bird flu” virus strain has not been found in any bird samples from Alaska or elsewhere in North America.
Many states, along with New Mexico have begun surveillance and testing for avian influenza viruses in migratory birds. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) in coordination with USDA-Wildlife Services samples dead birds at hunter check stations and live birds at other locations around the state and sends diagnostic specimens to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS) for avian flu testing. The main species being tested include lesser sandhill cranes, northern pintail ducks, and snow geese since they all potentially migrate from Alaska and Siberia. This will establish an early warning system for any evidence of HPAI in our migratory waterfowl. Wildlife biologists from NMDGF and Wildlife Services will be handling all sampling and monitoring activities for HPAI in New Mexico.
I found a dead bird, now what do I do?
Wild birds die for a variety of reasons and most of these deaths have no impact on human health:
- Natural death: Naturally short life span, severe weather, predators, competition between species
- Accidental: Impacts with power lines, vehicle collisions, aircraft strikes, impacts with windows or buildings
- Toxic substances:
- Legal pest control with registered pesticides that are used to manage pest pigeon, starling, or house sparrow problems. The legal application of these products presents no threat to human health and safety
- Illegal or accidental pesticide exposure when people apply other pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, etc.) incorrectly
- Environmental contamination: Chemical spills, leaks, or releases.
- Spoiled grain crop residues: Crop residues are a primary food source for many of our wild birds. Bacteria, fungi, and molds can grow on crop residues left in the field and some of these organisms can cause mortality
- Dirty bird feeders: The same organisms found in spoiled crop residues can also be found in backyard bird feeders if they are not kept clean
- Diseases: Most wild bird diseases present no threat to human health; but some of the diseases that birds carry (such as HPAI or Salmonella) can potentially infect people, so all dead birds should be left alone
If you find dead migratory geese, ducks, swans, or shorebirds, DO NOT PICK UP THE BIRDS FOR TESTING. Please call the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at 505-476-8000 or the USDA-Wildlife Services at 1-866-487-3297 to report the location and number of dead waterfowl. NMDGF and Wildlife Services professional staff will determine if testing is necessary. This may be based on what kind of birds you have found. Bird flu does not usually involve most backyard birds (sparrows, finches, robins, jays, etc) so you do not need to report incidents of single dead birds unless there are many dead birds in the same place.
If you have to dispose of a dead bird:
- Dead birds should no be handled with bare hands. Wear gloves, pick it up with a shovel, or use a plastic bag turned inside out over your hand
- Put the dead bird in one bag and put that bag in another bag
- Either throw it out in the trash or bury it away from a stream or water source
- Wash your hands and tools with soap and hot water
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| © This site is a collaborative effort of the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, the New Mexico Livestock Board, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
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