Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
HPAI (Avian Influenza) is highly suspected to be back in the Comox Valley.
This disease often presents as certain birds “acting strangely”. Infected birds can appear disoriented and wobbly, unstable, or may be rocking back and forth. In many cases, they have a head twitch/recurrent tick, and may even appear blind with hazy eyes (sometimes described as having blue eyes). Diarrhea can be a very bright green.
Avian Influenza depletes populations in the wild and has affected over 8 million birds to date in BC. Some species across the world have taken huge population declines from HPAI which has significantly affected conservation efforts of certain species worldwide.
If you spot wildlife acting strangely and exhibiting the symptoms listed in the graphic, particularly waterfowl, gulls, sea and shorebirds, but also raptors and corvids, we urge you to call our wildlife hospital to notify us at 250-337-2021.
If you find dead wild birds that you suspect to have died from HPAI (have died with no obvious injuries), please call to report them to the Avian Mortality and Flu Surveillance line at 1-866-431-2473.
Symptoms of Avian Flu
- abnormal behaviour: falling over, head tilt, head and neck twisting, circling, paralysis, seizures
- abnormal movement: unable to stand or flap wings properly, yet with no traumatic injuries
- diarrhea
- regurgitation
- sneezing
- blue 'hazy' eyes
- unexplained emaciation
Wild birds most commonly affected:
Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Raptors, and Corvids
Visitor Centre Guests
HPAI (avian flu) transmission prevention protocols for visitors: If you have chickens or ducks, please let your guide know. We will ask you to spray your shoes with a veterinary grade spray to mitigate disease transmission to our ambassador birds and eagle patients.
What about bird feeders?
We recommend waiting until the end of November to put up seed and suet feeders. Concentrating birds such as crows and jays at feeders has the potential to spread the pathogen. Once feeders do go up, please clean them weekly with a weak (1:10) bleach solution, and rake or wash away seed debris under your feeders. This will also help reduce salmonella spread. Protect birds from cats and other predators, and keep feeders within two meters of your windows to minimize window collisions.
Hummingbird feeders, cleaned weekly, are a low risk of HPAI transmission so can remain up.