From the Cornell Lab – It is Safe to Feed Songbirds!

We have been hearing from a number of customers in the last few days, wondering if it is safe to feed backyard songbirds considering the continued outbreak of avian influenza – bird flu. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this strain of bird flu has sickened a wide variety of birds including domesticated poultry and ducks as well as wild birds including, hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, crows, vultures, shorebirds, game birds, seabirds, and especially waterfowl such as Canada Geese and Mallards. However, transmission to songbirds and other typical feeder visitors has been low – only about 3% of all cases reported in wild birds since 2022.

There is currently a low risk of outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you keep domestic poultry.

If you would like to read more about the subject, please check out Cornell Lab’s article – Avian Influenza Outbreak: Should You Take Down Your Bird Feeders? Here is the link https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/avian-influenza-outbreak-should-you-take-down-your-bird-feeders/

Always remember to clean your feeders and birdbaths often to further reduce the risk of any illnesses spreading in the songbird population!

We will keep you posted if we learn of any further updates. In the meantime – enjoy feeding the birds!

Feeders in the photo are our WBU Quick-Clean Medium Finch Feeder (filled with fine sunflower chips) with 12” Weather Guard and Dome Feeders (filled with sunflower chips).