Bird flu or avian flu has been around since 1878. How come no humans in this country contracted it until now, in a Presidential election year?
Joe Biden Flu
As part of our summer research, I’ve handled about 50 live birds so far this nesting season. Mainly House Sparrows (which we trap and destroy) and Tree Swallows.
We’ve found one European Starling, one Eastern Bluebird and one Tree Swallow - all adults - dead in boxes. The Bluebird was in poor condition and had a fat score of 0 (the lowest on a scale from 0 to 5). The Starling was underneath some nest substrate that another pair of Starlings had used to build a nest. The Tree Swallow was in good condition and in a box that had two eggs already in a clutch. We’ll know more about the Tree Swallow nest and if the female that was laying eggs had died or if it was a conspecific female (essentially a helper female, common in Tree Swallows) at the next check.
It’s really about assessing risk and taking steps to mitigate risk where appropriate. We use IPA 90% to reduce cross box transmission of ectoparasites such as red mites, avian pox and the like. I assess the risk of those two conditions as more likely than HPAI.
I’m not concerned about contracting HPAI given the current status of the virus. I’m more concerned about keeping an eye on lightning, given all boxes are in metal piles in open areas (haha!).
2nd person and public is supposed to worry?
Joe in debate and a straight-up election.
Desperately Seeking A Virus, democrats are.
Yoda