Kip’s Comments - December 19, 2022

Thought Provoking Geese

When I spotted so many Canada geese congregated together, along with a half-dozen or so trumpeter swans, it made me think about challenges some areas faced with avian influenza. Where avian influenza was documented, the effect for poultry producers was swift and dramatic. Millions of birds were euthanized in an effort to stop the spread of the virus.

At this time the spread of avian influenza among domestic birds has been attributed to migrating wild birds. Seeing so many geese so close together as I did today certainly supports this theory. Just imagine a virus - any prolific virus - becoming established in a part of this flock. It would not take long for the entire flock to become carriers. And, even if the bird is a carrier of a virus there is no certainty that its health will be affected. Yet, those same birds could wreak havoc on a domestic population due to immunity differences.

There isn’t much to be done in this situation other than marvel at how wild birds adapt to all conditions or how they remain healthy even under challenging conditions. Seeing so many together, sleeping on a frozen lake, really is interesting and though provoking.

Large Flock of Canada Geese on Ice - Image 786061