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Birding/Bird flu with feeding backyard birds?

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Expert: - 11/6/2005


Question
Hi

I  have always fed doves, safflower seed, wild canaries (yellow), chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, woodpeckers, "niger seed," sunflower seed, separate feeders, then a heated waterer, Now are we suceptible to the avian bird flu, by continuing feeding these? In Wisconsin,USA
thanks  

Answer
The avian bird flu has not hit the states yet. Besides, the only people who have so far contracted the disease work intensely with birds on chicken or turkey farms, etc. in Asia. If the disease spreads to other humans as we fear it might, then you would most likely get it from other people, not birds. You are in no danger by feeding wild birds.
Roger Lederer
See ornithology.com for more information on wild birds.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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