Avian Influenza: Quick Addendum.

[M T]

One last bit of info that I shared in an inquiry from Dave Leatherman:

"Passerines are the missing link in all of this. We have no idea to what extent HPAI exists in smaller birds. The only consistent testing that I know of has been done by APHIS at dairy farms where cows tested positive. These were live asymptomatic birds that were harvested for testing and subsequently tested positive. This was mostly done in 2024 when the Feds were trying to figure out how cattle were becoming infected in the Midwest and West during the summer when there wasn't any mortality in the usual suspects. They have also found wild mice to be infected at these locations. House sparrows, Mourning and Eurasian Collared doves, Starlings and a myriad of others were positive.

HPAI is endemic in waterfowl and wherever APHIS is doing hunter harvest sampling, the virus is there. I am not aware of any active songbird HPAI sampling being done in the field or by rehabilitation facilities. Sampling/testing is expensive and research funding is limited. The reason APHIS does so much other sampling is due to the threat to agriculture and the impact to the economy."

I will now return to my dimly lit lair and wish all of you a fantastic day.

Michael C Tincher

Fort Collins/Loveland and wherever raptors need me.