Feeding garden birds is one of the most popular pastimes in our country. The investigation reveals about half of Australian households feed wild birds, and many people do so daily.
However, this practice could act as superspreader event – when a disease infects an unusually large number of people or animals – from the H5N1 virus. This deadly tension Bird flu has already decimated wild bird and mammal populations worldwide. It is now spreading throughout Australia and recently killed more than 1,000 crested terns and a long-nosed sea lion, the first detection in a continental mammal.
Although many Australians feed wild birds, the practice It is controversial. This is mainly due to concerns about people offering inappropriate foods and birds become dependent on humans.
So why is feeding backyard birds such a big problem when it comes to bird flu? And can we do it safely?
It’s not just a hobby
People feed wild birds several reasonseven to provide food in difficult times or simply enjoy their presence. Most care deeply about their avian companions and believe that feeding them it is useful.
However, they may not realize the danger this creates for the birds they love.
Feeding wild birds increases the risk of disease transmission in feeding places. When we offer complementary foods, such as seeds or meat scraps, this attracts birds of many different species in a combination and number that would not happen in the wild. They can carry deadly diseases, such as the H5N1 virus, and potentially spread to other birds.
This can create a streaming access point Right on our back deck. And contracting bird flu can make our most endangered species, like the orange bellied parroton the verge of extinction.
The deadly effects of H5N1 do not only affect birds. scavenger animals such as opossums, red foxes and crows can be exposed to the virus while devouring the carcasses of infected birds. Humans in close contact People with infected wildlife, such as wildlife keepers and veterinarians, can contract H5N1. However, human infection it’s weird and usually causes only mild symptoms.
Stop the spread
Feeding birds in the backyard may seem like a harmless pastime. But given the number of people who do it and the risks it poses to both birds and people, bird feeding activities could lead to many more consequences. wildlife deaths.
So if you feed birds in your backyard, how can you do it safely?
The most effective strategy is to stop feeding the birds completely. If you don’t offer food to wild birds, they will be less likely to gather in your yard or garden. And they will be fine without your help. Our previous research It was found that most birds visiting feeders get most of their nutrition from natural sources, such as insects and worms. Then the food we provide It is a snack, not an essential meal.
But if you continue to feed wild birds, here are three precautions you should take:
Offer less food
Having feeders filled with seeds and meat scraps will attract more birds. So, to discourage them from congregating, simply provide them with less food. Like COVID-era social distancing rules, this will reduce the risk of H5N1 transmission by keeping birds apart.
Avoid hand feeding
Making a bird swoop to snatch food from your hand is one of the most intimate interactions we can have with wildlife. But in the era of bird flu, this must stop. While humans are unlikely To contract H5N1, it is simply not worth the risk of having close physical contact with birds by hand-feeding them.
Keep everything clean
If you continue to feed wild birds, it is vital that you periodically clean all surfaces and feeding equipment with household bleach. If you are not prepared to do this, you should not feed them at all.
Feeding backyard birds could worsen the current H5N1 virus crisis in Australia. In fact, your bird visitors may complain if you give them fewer treats or stop feeding them altogether. But these measures will protect both you and them from this deadly disease.
Please do not touch sick or dead birds or marine mammals. Record the location, take photographs from a safe distance, keep pets away and report the sighting to the Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (Australia).