Bird feeders during Avian flu outbreaks

 from Cornell Lab - updated from 2022

Originally published April 2022. Updated through February 2025 to reflect further developments in the outbreak.

Many people are concerned about the outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, that began in 2022 and has affected domestic poultry, waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, other species of birds, and some mammals in many parts of the world. Because the current strain (H5N1) causes heavy losses to poultry, it is referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI.

Transmission of avian influenza from birds to humans is rare, according to Centers for Disease Control’s summary of current avian influenza testing and infection statistics.

Reports of Avian Flu in Birds

This H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus affects a wide variety of wild birds, including hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, crows, vultures, shorebirds, game birds, seabirds, and especially waterfowl such as Canada Geese and Mallards (see list of species with HPAI detections, below). The virus is shed in the saliva, mucus, and feces of 

Today's South Branch flooding - Springfield Gauge

 Today's flooding at 14.92 was the 89th highest in recorded history. Surprisingly, there have been 18 higher water levels in the last 20 years (24 in the last 25 years). Notice that they're not necessarily annual events.

See the full list of 90 high water historical events (sorted by rank or by date) at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1L9nEFii5yABTtVCNcSxOpSxw7krttOy3SpQ7iKdlFNo/edit 

Use File, Make a Copy, and do further analysis on your own.  Please share new insights at  

https://www.facebook.com/SouthBranchPotomac 

February 7 prediction for minor flooding - Springfield gauge

 This prediction represents a 24,000 CFS surge of water raising the water level from 4ft to over 17 feet at the Springfield gauge in a 12-hour period.

Easy Bird feeding observation closeup

 Unfortunately, shaded lenses are necessary for most birds to be comfortable.  Both Northern and Carolina chickadees can be conditioned to feed from your hand if you remain still, but eye movement so close would be a concern for these species too.

Vultures finding Gas Pipeline leaks

 We first learned about this from a graduate student and were skeptical. However, quick research revealed that Turkey Vultures were known to be useful for finding pipeline gas leaks, documented back to the 1930's when mercaptan was first added to natural gas.

How Does Climate Change Affect Tick Habitat and the Spread of Lyme Disease in Georgia?

 How Does Climate Change Affect Tick Habitat and the Spread of Lyme Disease in Georgia?

By: Nidhi Gadekar, January 22, 2025

Introduction

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, one of the issues the world faces is the spread of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). It’s the most vector-borne disease in the United States, with approximately 476,000 Americans diagnosed and treated annually, according to the CDC.  It is most commonly found in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions in the U.S., but Lyme disease is even greater in central and eastern European countries.

(Source: Blacklegged Tick Surveillance)

While Lyme disease is traditionally common in cooler regions like the Northeastern U.S., it is becoming a growing concern for Southern States such as Georgia. This is particularly alarming because Lyme disease can cause debilitating long-term complications if not treated early. Understanding how climate change influences the spread of Lyme disease in traditionally warmer climates is essential for public health preparedness and prevention. In this post, we’re advocating for the exploration of how climate change is expanding tick habitats, tick prevalence, and population density, in Georgia and the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in understanding and managing the potential for increased Lyme disease risk. 

Overview of Lyme disease

Lyme disease can be characterized by two stages: 

• In the early stage (3-30 days post-bite), the patient has symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, and an erythema migrans rash, which has a bull's-eye appearance.