If you have birdfeeders in your yard, you can do a few things to help keep wild birds safe.

Avian Flu in 2025

We've been talking about bird flu for a few years now, but it seems like we are seeing the toll this virus is taking on birds lately.  Just recently the 2nd largest producer of eggs in the United States has reported multiple bird flu deaths in their Indiana facility.

Canva
Canva
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Here is what the Indiana DNR says about Avian Influenza:

Avian influenza, or “bird flu,” is a disease caused by influenza viruses that usually spread between birds. Avian influenza viruses are common in wild birds, especially waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) refers to viruses that can produce severe and often fatal disease in domestic poultry. The termHPAI does not necessarily mean that the virus will also cause illness in humans. The risk of HPAI to the general public is low.

For more information about avian influenza, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

While there have been reports of humans contracting avian influenza, the CDC says the risk to humans is relatively low. However, the CDC says it is still important to mitigate exposure risks.   So what about bird feeders?  Should we leave those up in our backyard?

Photo by Salomé Guruli on Unsplash
Photo by Salomé Guruli on Unsplash
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Are Backyard Bird Feeders Still Safe?

I've talked about it before, but last summer I bought bird feeders for my backyard, and it was like the highlight of my year.  Who knew watching birds in your yard could bring you so much joy?  Truly, it's the little things.  It started with one bird feeder, but now we've got three in our backyard, a couple in the front yard, and even a birdhouse in the tree.  But with all the reports of avian flu, I've wondered if I should take them down.

My favorite springtime view (Melissa/TSM)
My favorite springtime view (Melissa/TSM)
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Low Risk of Outbreak to Songbirds

 

The good news, is you don't have to (unless you also have domestic poultry in your yard, in which case it is recommended to take down bird feeders to keep your flock safe), but you do need to be diligent with taking care of the birds in our area if you have birdfeeders at your home.

All About Birds has been tracking avian influenza for the past few years, and they say that when talking with experts, songbirds and other typical bird feeder dwellers seem to be at a lower risk for avian influenza which is good.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
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 However, transmission to songbirds and other typical feeder visitors has been low (about 3% of all cases reported in wild birds), although this may change with increased testing or changes to the virus. That means there is currently a low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.

How to Keep Your Bird Feeders Clean

Since there is still a risk, there are steps you can (and should) take to help keep the birds in your backyard safe. All About Birds recommends cleaning your bird feeders and birth baths regularly.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
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The Humane Society recommends cleaning bird feeders every couple of weeks with 9-part water and 1-part bleach solution.

To prevent the spread of disease, wash your feeder with a mixture of nine parts water to one part bleach every two weeks. Be sure to let it dry completely and scrub off any caked-on debris before re-hanging.

Quiz: Do you know your state insect?

Stacker has used a variety of sources to compile a list of the official state insect(s) of each U.S. state, as well as their unique characteristics. Read on to see if you can guess which insect(s) represent your state. 

Gallery Credit: Andrew Vale