Avian flu outbreak especially worrisome for endangered whooping cranes

UngulateNerd92

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As a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza spreads across North America and other continents, conservationists have a heightened concern about its potential effects on endangered species such as whooping cranes.

You've likely seen news this year of a bird flu that's taking an unprecedented toll on U.S. domestic and wild birds.

The H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has killed or caused to be destroyed 53.4 million domestic birds in the U.S., according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures released Tuesday.

That tops the previous high in 2014 and 2015 when a different strain affected 49 million domestic birds and cost $1 billion. The USDA proclaimed that outbreak as "the most costly animal health emergency in U.S. history."

Birds could be at increased risk on migration and at wintering grounds
 
Whooping Cranes don't gather in large flocks, so they are less likely to be hit hard than many other wetland bird species. Of course, even a few deaths would hit their population hard.
 
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