MI: 2022 Bird flu in wild birds

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/n...es/9760134002/

Health department issues warning after bird flu found in Antrim, Otsego counties
May 14, 2022

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have been confirmed in Antrim and Otsego counties. No human illness has been associated with this detection.

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is sharing this information to recommend precautions for people who own or work with birds, including poultry, or hunt wild birds. The bird flu or HPAI in birds is not a food safety concern if poultry and eggs are handled and cooked properly.

Following an investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the health department was notified that HPAI was detected in a hooded merganser in Antrim County and a barred owl in Otsego County. MDARD is working with poultry owners to mitigate the spread and provide outreach and support...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/...d-88a17bd767ae


Allegan County confirms first case of highly contagious bird flu
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) says the case was confirmed on May 17, 2022.
Author: 13 ON YOUR SIDE Staff
Published: 5:56 PM EDT May 25, 2022
Updated: 6:16 PM EDT May 25, 2022

ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — The first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) commonly referred to as “bird flu," has been confirmed in an eagle in Allegan County.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) says the case was confirmed on May 17, 2022. Three dead geese were also found and sent in for testing, but official results could take a week or more to come back...

...In Michigan, HPAI has been detected in both backyard domestic birds and wild birds. The virus has been detected in domestic flocks from 10 counties. In wild birds, it has been detected in 37 counties. ..

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/d...ely-avian-flu/

DNR: Bird die-off in Muskegon park likely avian flu
by: Byron Tollefson
Posted: Jun 17, 2022 / 05:11 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 17, 2022 / 05:11 PM EDT

NORTON SHORES, Mich. (WOOD) — The state believes that avian flu was the cause of the deaths of dozens of cormorants at Dune Harbor Park near Muskegon.

Megan Moriarty, a wildlife disease specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, told News 8 Friday that wildlife disease biologists collected four birds from the park in Norton Shores a couple of weeks ago. They were brought to the DNR’s wildlife disease lab, where samples were collected and submitted to the diagnostic lab.

Earlier this week, the DNR sent the samples to a national laboratory in Ames, Iowa. On Friday, the DNR received confirmation one of the birds had highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Another bird had tested negative for bird flu.

Still, Moriarty said it’s “highly likely the outbreak is due to the virus.”

“The fact we’ve had one positive animal of the two we’ve tested, I think it’s highly likely this outbreak is due to HPAI,” Moriarty said. “There have been other outbreaks of mortality events of cormorants and Caspian terns and gulls as well that have also tested positive for HPAI and have had relatively large numbers of die-offs...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.michiganradio.org/enviro...chigan-islands

Bird flu has killed nearly 1,500 threatened Caspian terns on Lake Michigan islands
Michigan Radio | By Lester Graham
Published June 29, 2022 at 5:00 AM EDT

Wildlife biologists are finding whole colonies of birds dead or dying on islands in Lake Michigan. They's Caspian terns, which are listed as threatened in Michigan and endangered in Wisconsin.

“Caspian terns are magnificent birds. They've got that striking black cap and they fly along, looking down at the water while they fly and then suddenly plunge into the water to catch fish. They're exciting to watch,” said Lisa Williams, a contaminants specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In recent years, the bird’s population has been growing. In 2018 it peaked at about 10,000 Caspian terns in the Great Lakes region. Then high water levels made nesting difficult for the birds.

Now it appears that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — bird flu — is killing hundreds and hundreds of the birds...

[sharon sanders]

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