Annnnnnd the hits just keep on coming! Bird Flu!

[haymaker]

I found a dead spoonbill duck laying on a township road uneaten. I do not know why it died.

 

[Matt D]

From what I’ve read waterfowl have the highest risk from the flu since they congregate in large groups more so than upland birds do. Makes sense to me.

 

[Pheasants & a Lab]

Yep, I think the opportunity to social distance & fresh air should keep the real/wild pheasants safe.

OK, so this is way outside my realm of expertise. Because they're immediately exposed to a variety of "stuff", does a wild pheasant chick develop a stronger immune system than a pen-raised chick? Or are pen-reared birds filled with enough drugs that THEY have stronger immune systems?

I would think the wild birds are exposed to LESS than a pen raised bird when it comes to disease, etc. Interesting thought by Golden Hour about life style and disease. Exposure in my opinion does create immunity. My wife and I remember getting sick in our early years of teaching and after 35+ years of teaching, we haven't been sick for 18 years, that we can remember. My daughter has gone through the same thing. I do believe in exposure (get dirty, get out, ) to build some immunity (covid made that theory more frightening) so I'm glad she is getting our grandchild messy so to speak. Whatever the outcome, I like to think Nature takes care of itself. Over population of any species often has consequences. I know we humans don't allow that as much any more as we have hamstringed Natures ability to do its job. I have little hope that our government will heed to take care of our water, our land, and our air to better the situation. $ $ $ talks. We will over come the bird flu and continue to hunt the bird that has beguiled us. Going out now and working with my dog.

 

[Golden Hour]

I would think the wild birds are exposed to LESS than a pen raised bird when it comes to disease, etc. Interesting thought by Golden Hour about life style and disease. Exposure in my opinion does create immunity. My wife and I remember getting sick in our early years of teaching and after 35+ years of teaching, we haven't been sick for 18 years, that we can remember. My daughter has gone through the same thing. I do believe in exposure (get dirty, get out, ) to build some immunity (covid made that theory more frightening) so I'm glad she is getting our grandchild messy so to speak. Whatever the outcome, I like to think Nature takes care of itself. Over population of any species often has consequences. I know we humans don't allow that as much any more as we have hamstringed Natures ability to do its job. I have little hope that our government will heed to take care of our water, our land, and our air to better the situation. $ $ $ talks. We will over come the bird flu and continue to hunt the bird that has beguiled us. Going out now and working with my dog.

I think we all know that a wild rooster is fast and cunning enough to simply run away from the flu.