Ojibway Park takes precautions as bird flu spreads in Ontario

OjibwayPark is taking precautions in light of the spread of avian flu in Canada.

The park has taken down its bird feeders in the hopes of preventing birds from gathering in the same place, and curbing any potential transmission of the virus.

ButTom Preney, the city of Windsor'sbiodiversity co-ordinator, saidthe birds will still have enough to eat.

"The birds do have lots of food available to them, so we really put seed out for our own pleasure so we can see the birds up close but they don't really need the bird seed," said Preney.

Park goers are also being asked notfeed birds from theirhands this year.

"That is one thing that we arediscouraging people to do now at Ojibway Park," he said.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, thehighly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenzaflu is spreading in this country and around the world. The illness affects both domestic and wild birds.

Cases have been confirmed in several regions of Ontario. Though no casesfromWindsor-Essex are listed on the CFIA's website, Parks Canada says a case was found at Point Pelee National Park earlier this month.

When it comes to suspecting avian flu, one of the things to watch out for isabnormal behaviour, Preney said.

"If you were to approach a bird and if it doesn't fly away from you, that is abnormal behaviour," he said."If it's tilting its head tothe side, shaking, if it has tremors, something like that, that would be cause for alarm."

If you come across a bird you think might have avian flu, Preney said not to come into contact with it. He said to report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

For those continuing to usebackyard bird feeders, you can take precautions toprevent spread of the illness.You should make sure your feederis as clean as possible by soaking itin a diluted bleach solution every week or two, Preney said.

Mary Jane Ireland,Canada's chief veterinary officer, said earlier that this month that this year hasthe largest number of bird flucases in multiple provinces in recent memory and the first time Canada has seen H5N1.

When asked why avian flu has been so widespread this year, she said it's because there's a high number of wild, migratory birds with the virus.

"The environmental pressure in migratory birds is very high right now and I think that's the reason."