Bird Flu Closures in the US

birdsandbats

birdsandbats

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Just when we thought the pandemic was largely over came the bird pandemic. *sigh*

Closures of bird exhibit areas have going on in European zoos for some time now, however this hasn't been going on in zoos in the US until, well basically now, following the discovery of the disease in captive chicken flocks in several states in the past couple of weeks. This thread is for the purpose of compiling a list of zoos that have close some or all of their exhibits, and what exhibits are closed. At the moment, I am aware of these four:

Blank Park Zoo - Discovery Center is closed, all bird species throughout the zoo are off-exhibit
Cape May County Zoo - World of Birds is closed
Detroit Zoo - All outdoor bird species are off-exhibit
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Simmons Aviary is closed

At the moment I'm only aware of these four. Let's hope that this goes away quickly and that list doesn't get too much longer, and that none of these changes become permanent as some of the ones in Europe have been...
 
birdsandbats said:
Just when we thought the pandemic was largely over came the bird pandemic. *sigh*

Closures of bird exhibit areas have going on in European zoos for some time now, however this hasn't been going on in zoos in the US until, well basically now, following the discovery of the disease in captive chicken flocks in several states in the past couple of weeks. This thread is for the purpose of compiling a list of zoos that have close some or all of their exhibits, and what exhibits are closed. At the moment, I am aware of these four:

Blank Park Zoo - Discovery Center is closed, all bird species throughout the zoo are off-exhibit
Cape May County Zoo - World of Birds is closed
Detroit Zoo - All outdoor bird species are off-exhibit
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Simmons Aviary is closed

At the moment I'm only aware of these four. Let's hope that this goes away quickly and that list doesn't get too much longer, and that none of these changes become permanent as some of the ones in Europe have been...
Click to expand...

Brevard Zoo has closed it's Lorikeet and Cockatiel feeding aviaries.
 
Cross posting from the Elmwood Park thread, they announced today:

The zoo has made some changes due to the threat of avian flu.
-The bald and golden eagles have been moved to the exhibit outside the wildlife lodge
-The chickens in the farm area are now in a quarantine space, away from visitors
-For the member preview (and likely the public opening), visitors will not be able to go in to Harmony Hideaway, just the vestibule to see the sloth.
-Encounters with birds are all being stopped.
 
The Lincoln Children's Zoo just posted the following on social media:

"The Lincoln Children's Zoo is implementing temporary proactive measures to protect avian species at the Zoo from H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. A case was found in birds in Lancaster County in Nebraska. These are precautionary measures and no birds at the Lincoln Children's Zoo have been diagnosed with HPAI.

Beginning March 6, 2022, the following temporary changes will occur at the Lincoln Children's Zoo following recommendations from the USDA and state veterinarian's office:

• All avian species will be off-exhibit aside from raptors and eagles.
• Exhibits temporarily closed to visitors: The Aviary, Penguins, and the Flamingo yard
• Avian species will not participate in daily shows
• Staff will be implementing additional protocols including enhanced disinfection, increased PPE, limiting access to vulnerable species and behind-the-scenes areas as well as other protocols.

These protocols will remain in place for a minimum of six weeks."
 
Add Sedgwick County Zoo to the growing list

BIRD AREAS CLOSED AS PRECAUTION AGAINST AVIAN INFLUENZA
Sedgwick County Zoo officials have been closely following reports from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) moving across the United States. HPAI is a zoonotic disease that is carried by birds, mainly migratory waterfowl. While this particular strain is not believed to pose a high risk to human health, many Zoo animals are susceptible to the disease. This includes all birds, some mammals, and possibly some reptiles.
This afternoon, SCZ learned of a positive case of HPAI in central Kansas. The close proximity of the disease has triggered the Sedgwick County Zoo to implement its HPAI action plan in order to protect the health of animals and humans, as well as its business operations.
To protect its bird residents, the Zoo’s bird exhibits will be closed to the public until further notice. Many birds have been moved to indoor habitats, while others have received habitat modifications to prevent contact with wild birds. Animal care staff will use personal protective equipment while caring for the birds at SCZ.
Additionally, the Zoo has halted the sale of fish food available to guests in an effort to encourage wild waterfowl to forage elsewhere. Penguin Encounters will be on hold as well until the threat has passed.
Avian influenza – commonly called “bird flu” – is a viral infection that occurs naturally in birds. Wild birds can carry the virus but may not always get sick from it. Some domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys can become infected, often fatally.
Although it is possible for humans to become infected with avian influenza, the CDC states that the virus does not spread easily from animals to humans.
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Here's an updated and worryingly longer list:

Blank Park Zoo - Discovery Center is closed, all bird species throughout the zoo are off-exhibit
Brevard Zoo - Lorikeet and Cockatiel aviaries are closed
Cape May County Zoo - World of Birds is closed
Detroit Zoo - All outdoor bird species are off-exhibit
Elmwood Park Zoo - Harmony Hideaway is closed, eagles have moved exhibits, Domestic Chickens are off-exhibit
Lincoln Children's Zoo - Aviary is closed, all bird species across the zoo (except birds of prey) are off-exhibit
Louisville Zoo - Walk-through aviaries are closed, all outdoor bird species are off-exhibit
North Carolina Zoo - Aviary is closed
Oklahoma City Zoo - Outdoor aviaries are closed
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo - Simmons Aviary is closed
Philadelphia Zoo - McNeil Avian Center is closed, all outdoor bird species are off-exhibit
Sedgwick County Zoo - All bird species across the zoo are off-exhibit
 
Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo has now moved most of their birds inside, while other birds have received exhibit modifications for lower chance of getting the disease. Also, the zoo will stop serving food that contains fish.

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Smaggledagle said:
Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo has now moved most of their birds inside, while other birds have received exhibit modifications for lower chance of getting the disease. Also, the zoo will stop serving food that contains fish.

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Click to expand...

You got the fish part wrong :D They're stopping the sale of food for the fish, ie. pellets you can toss into a pond or stream or whatever, to try and cut down the amount of wild birds coming in to get the free food.
 
I went to Zoo Atlanta on Tuesday and they had a sign in front of one of the aviaries that said a few of the bird species have been temporarily moved to indoor locations because of the bird flu. I'm not sure how many bird species live at Zoo Atlanta, but I feel like a majority of the birds were still in their outdoor exhibits.
 
Press release from Sylvan Heights, they are reopen with precautions:

Sylvan Heights Bird Park will reopen on March 1, 2022. We are pleased to report that there have been no known cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in our flock. To maintain the good health of our birds, we ask that all visitors please observe the following new guidelines:

- Visitors will be required to disinfect shoes at the provided sanitizing station before entering the park
- Visitors must use the provided hand sanitizing station before entering the park
- Park staff will disinfect any wheelchair and stroller wheels prior to entry
- Visitors with recent or frequent exposure to poultry or waterfowl (wild or domestic) are asked to please postpone their visit until a later date.

As a reminder, HPAI has been detected in wild migratory bird populations in eastern North Carolina during the winter of 2021-22. While HPAI is considered to be a very low risk to humans, the disease can be very dangerous to our birds here at Sylvan Heights Bird Park. We thank you for your cooperation as we implement these protocols to ensure that our birds remain healthy and safe.
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This list is quickly getting both longer and closer to home. The Capron Park Zoo's Rainforest Building is closing.
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Hopefully most of these closures are short-lived and these zoos reopen the aviaries soon, once it is safe to do so.
 
Given that the disease is believed to spread primarily with migrating waterfowl, we many see it go away when waterfowl complete their spring migration. Or at least, I hope that's the case.
 
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