Bird Flu precautions

[GoddessOfGuinness]

It's being suggested that the bird flu will hit here before long.
What precautions might we need to take?

Since I don't handle the creatures, I'm relatively certain that I should be fine as long as I wash after handling bird feeders. I'm wondering if I should wash the feeders with some sort of disinfectant, or if it's not worth the trouble.

West Nile has decimated the crow population around here; and I suspect it may have gotten to Blue Jays too, as I haven't seen nearly as many as usual this winter. I'd love to know if there's anything we can do to stop the spread of the bug...

[Theres-a]

1. Outside shoes

I'm not going to wear my shoes in the house,since H5N1 is in the droppings.I suppose if it gets here it will start in Alaska and the Northwest,near as I can tell.However,some folks are not going to feed the birds anymore if it comes to the US,to discourage birds from congregating,thus infecting each other.Personally,I don't know what I'll do.They're like our kids.We feed them every day.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Excellent idea!

By not feeding birds, I would think that more birds would stand greater risk of being infected. The birds that visit my feeder are for the most part the same ones. If they were forced to another area, they'd be more likely to come into contact with infected birds.

[Blue Gardener]

4. May have to move the feeders

The finch feeders are hanging from the tree over the deck. Lots of little droppings all over the place.

[Theres-a]

2. Interesting read

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/02/26/Worldandnation/Bird_flu_watchers_kee.shtml