Some wild birds are dying in Kansas from suspected bird flu. Some reservoirs estimate more than 1% of birds have died this season.
Bird flu is killing geese in particular. Ducks can still carry it, but mostly don’t have symptoms. Geese have been dying in the water, on land, or dropping out of the sky after experiencing a sudden death in-flight.
Symptoms of bird flu include walking in circles, bobbing their heads a lot, and having nasal discharge; the sick bird also won’t walk away, and if you approach, it may lie down and allow you to pick it up.
A wildlife disease expert says bird flu can be beneficial in slowing the numbers of light geese, where there are not enough hunters mid-continent to slow down more than six million birds in a habitat overpopulation.
Because of this, the light geese have destroyed many nesting grounds. Bird flu can spread to mammals, mainly juveniles who eat sick birds.
The deaths are mainly around reservoirs; a bird doesn’t have to look sick to carry the virus.
Bird flu cases have grown exponentially since last month, and with deer season underway, people could run into sick birds while hunting.
Birds have grown more immune to the disease since it first started four years ago; a vaccine for farm fowl will likely be available soon.