West Nile Virus & My Birdbath
Signs & Symptoms of West Nile Virus
Can birds transmit the West Nile Virus to humans?
Birds depend heavily on water, year-round. Many people are emptying their birdbaths due to West Nile Virus concerns, which could cost the lives of thousands of birds. Some individuals fear that they can catch the Virus from birds; others fear that the standing water in the birdbath will attract infected mosquitoes.
While the government is scampering to educate the public on this potentially life-threatening disease, there are still a lot of individuals in the dark. In this feature, we will address the concerns surrounding birdbaths.
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Can birds transmit the West Nile Virus to humans?
No. The Virus is transmitted to mosquitoes that bite and feed off of infected birds. You cannot catch West Nile Virus from an infected bird.
Should I empty my birdbath?
Mosquitoes breed in standing and stagnated water. Water that stands for more than four days is like presenting a mosquito with a Bed & Breakfast, so you'll need to drain or remove all standing water.
As for your birdbath, empty the water and refill at least once daily - which you're probably already doing. Birds thrive on fresh, clear water, though they really do enjoy 'making it dirty'.
Without sufficient vital water, our bird population would dwindle to seriously low levels. So please, continue to provide your local fowl with this necessary commodity of nature. With development taking over more and more of our natural lands, birds often find difficulty in locating a source of water.
You cannot get the West Nile Virus from birds, so please continue to provide essential water.
Unusual Bird Behavior
Report any unusual bird behavior to your local county officials, and particularly a gathering of dead birds. If you are faced with removing a dead bird, wear protective gloves as a precaution.
