Birds of a Feather Flock Together

A wood stork stands by the water’s edge, its beak dipping into the shallow lake where the bank meets the water. It stirs up the sand and water with one foot, and the little creatures hiding in the muck scurry away, right into the stork’s waiting mouth.

It’s a pretty clever moment in the life of one of the many water birds that call Central Florida home. Our lakes and rivers are important crossroads where year-round birds share space with those stopping over on long migrations.

If you dig through the muck at the water’s edge, you’ll find an interesting assortment of invertebrates such as crayfish, snails, and freshwater mollusks. Many of these are carried as tiny larvae from shore to shore on the feathers and feet of aquatic birds. Once settled, they become a food source for water birds, in addition to grasses and algae. Wood storks and ibis also look for larger prey and mollusks in shallow wetland waters. They will eat frogs, tadpoles, and snakes and even peck around on land for bugs and worms.

A Fowl Problem: Avian Flu

In the past few years, however, migrating birds have brought with them a problem: H5N1 avian influenza. As migrating birds mix with native populations and look for food and shelter in the same places, respiratory diseases can run rampant. Many birds are gregarious in feeding areas, which means saliva, nasal secretions, feces, and virus particles floating in the air or kicked up from contaminated surfaces spread disease easily. Along with H5N1, several types of avian flu mutations have emerged in infected wild and domestic animals.

This past winter, 29 swans died of avian influenza at Lake Eola in Orlando, most likely because migrating birds arrived carrying the virus. In other areas, bird flu has infected poultry and dairy farms, resulting in thousands of animals being culled to stop the spread. Spillover disease from one species to another, including wild animals, farm animals, and people, is becoming a serious concern – with some human deaths.

Creating Safer Rest Stops

We can’t stop birds from flying, but we can make our backyards safer resting spots. Some small adjustments can help keep our wildlife healthy. If you have a bird feeder, clean it regularly with a disinfectant and then thoroughly rinse. It’s wise to wear gloves and a mask when working with any contaminated surfaces. Call authorities about any dead bird you find; do not touch it. If you have birds that leave droppings on your property, rinse those areas to keep particles from blowing around.

Be aware of runoff from herbicides and pesticides, which drains to our water bodies and affects wildlife that feed there. Food sources tainted from chemicals weaken birds’ immune systems, making them more prone to disease. Consider skipping herbicide and pesticide spray near the water, or only spray your front yard. Our feathered friends thank you.

Patricia Wilson moved to Orlando in 1990 and since then has been involved in understanding the science of Florida’s unique environmental issues. She has volunteered with NOAA’s Marine Microplastics Program and has worked with the American Association of University Women to develop a free educational program about how simple choices that we make can help improve water quality.