What You Need to Know

2025 Update 

As you may have heard of recent avian influenza (bird flu) cases in the media.  We want to provide you with accurate information so that you may make informed decision for the birds you love and the health of your family.  

Here is what we currently know:  The rist of avian flu among songbirds remains very low.  There is no offical recommendation to take down feeders or to stop feeding your backyard songbirds at this time.  

Here is what you can do:  Keep bird feeders clean - wash them regularly with 10% bleach solution.  If you own poultry, ensure they're separated from wild birds to reduce risk. Report to the IDNR if you find 5 or more deceased birds. (Do not touch dead birds or allow pets to come into contact with them).

Avian Flu, or HPAI (Highly Pathogenic AVian Influenza) is most sever in domestic poultry.  It has affected certain wild birds, including raptors, waterfowl, seabirds, and shorebirds, to a greater degree. Songbirds are much less likely to contract or spread the virus.

As bird lovers, it's our responsibility to stay informed and follow expert guidance to keep birds safe. Together, we can protect the bird we love. 

For more detailed information, visit Cornell Labratory of Ornithology HERE

2023 Update

You may have heard about avian influenza (or “bird flu”) and the development of this disease in North America. 

While recently the Illinois Department of Natural Resources provided a recommendation to “halt the use of bird feeders and bird baths through May 31, or until avian flu infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit" (see their Facebook post for their full statement). At this point in time, wildlife and health experts say you may continue feeding the birds. Here are the facts as we know them today. 

Since Fall of 2021, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) has been detected in numerous outbreaks in North America. It is a naturally-occurring virus especially prevalent among wild aquatic birds such as ducks, geese and shorebirds and has been shown to affect commercial and backyard poultry with high mortality.

However, according to the Cornell University Wildlife Health Lab, “Passerines [song birds] do not seem susceptible to HPAI and are not thought to play a significant role in spreading this virus. We are not recommending removal of bird feeders at this point.”

And the Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases at U Penn Vet School states, “According to the USDA, there is no evidence that birdfeeders, or the birds that frequent them, contribute to the spread of HPAI.”

The US Department of Agriculture further states, “HPAI viruses and the illness they cause are not commonly found in wild birds…removing backyard feeders is not somethings USDA specifically recommends to prevent avian influenza unless you also take care of poultry.” Also, the Government of Canada affirms, “The use of bird feeders is still safe but they should be removed from areas that are open to poultry and other domestic animals.”

In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Agency of Canada currently deem H5N1 to be of low human health risk.

To practice the hobby of bird feeding safely and to ensure the birds’ overall health, it is always recommended you clean your bird feeders regularly with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water.