Spring migration ramps up the likelihood of widespread bird flu outbreaks

 

Map:  Audubon 

Headline:  Wisconsin Public Radio, 3/19/2026

Danielle Kaeding reports:

Veterinary experts are urging owners of commercial and backyard flocks to take steps to protect their birds as the nation sees an increase in bird flu outbreaks during spring migration. 

In the last month, Wisconsin has had the second-highest number of birds affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza among flocks nationwide, according to federal data. Currently, more than 14.3 million birds have been infected in 84 flocks across the country. 

The vast majority of infections in domestic poultry come from exposure to wild birds that have begun their spring migration, said Alan Huddleston, acting chief veterinary officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.  [emphasis added]

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March 16-20:

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Wisconsin bird flu update:  3 million dead chickens composting in your neighborhood is not a pleasant experience.  (3/15)

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Backyard case of bird flu reported in Dane County Wisconsin.  (3/5)

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Bird flu knocks California seal watching tours off the schedule.  (2/28)

Bird flu most likely cause of death of 101 vultures in Florida state park.  (2/27)

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Bird flu cases reported in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Kansas.  (2/27)

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California reports cases of bird flu in elephant seal pups.  (2/26)

Argentina reports first cases of bird flu in commercial operation since fall of 2025.  (2/25)

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Ontario reports 1st Canadian bird flu outbreak in more than a month.  (2/24)

New cases of bird flu reported in 3 states.  (2/24)

Bird flu likely cause of death of 24 swans in London.  (2/23)

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Japan reports 20th case of bird flu this season at farm with 560,000 egg-laying hens.  (2/22/2026)

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Bird flu outbreak in New Jersey forces closure of park.  (2/20)

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Boone County Indiana reports bird flu at commercial breeder turkey farm.  (2/18)

Folks are finding dead birds all over Long Island New York.  (2/18)

Geese aren't making it out of Jersey alive due to bird flu,  (2/18)

Warren Ohio area residents told to stay away from dead birds due to bird flu outbreak.  (2/17)

Duck flock hit with avian flu in Elkhart County, Indiana.  (2/17)

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So far in 2026 Lancaster County Pennsylvania has recorded 2,400,000 cases of bird flu.  (2/16)

Bird flu hits wild birds throughout Utah.  (2/16)

Maryland reports 2nd case of bird flu in 2026.  (2/16)

Lancaster County Pennsylvania is currently ground zero for bird flu.  (2/13)

Dead skunk in Pueblo Colorado tests positive for bird flu.  (2/13)

Israel report 16 cases of Newcastle Disease since November 2025.  (2/12)

Bird flu hits Lancaster County Pennsylvania again.  (2/12)

Bird flu hits California broiler chicken farm.  (2/11)

Bird flu reported in numerous states in India.  (2/11)

Bird flu wipes out hundreds of crows in Terre Haute, Indiana.  (2/10)

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Georgia reports another case of bird flu.  (2/4)

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Georgia reports third case of bird flu in 2026.  (1/29)

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Iowa reports first case of bird flu in 2026 (7,000 pheasants and 120 chickens).  (1/23)

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New York tells resident don't touch those dead birds.  (1/17)

Bird flu outbreaks in Georgia and Minnesota.  (1/15)

Kansas is currently ground zero for bird flu.  (1/13)

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Dog dies of bird flu in Alberta after eating infected snow goose.  (1/7)

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Bird flu hits two gamebird flocks in Kansas.  (1/7)

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Bird flu puts a damper on goose hunting season in Arkansas.  (1/3)

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Geese dying to bird flu in South Dakota.  (1/1)

Bird flu continues to wreak havoc in Indiana.  (1/1)

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Maryland reports most recent biggest case of bird flu.  (12/31)

12 swans die of bird flu at Orlando's Lake Eola.  (12/30)

Dangerously setting aside the lessons learned from Covid.  (12/30)

Arkansas reports 3rd case of bird flu in 2025, 1st since January.  (12/29)

Hundreds of geese found dead of bird flu in Pennsylvania's Pymatuning Reservoir.  (12/26)

Egg prices on the rise in South Korea due to bird flu outbreaks.  (12/26)

Bird flu outbreak in Japan results in culling of nearly 1,000,000 egg-laying hens.  (12/26)

"A global problem:  Ominous outlook for bird flu in 2026.  (12/25)

Avian flu now encircles Australia.  (12/24)

Ontario reports two new cases of avian flu.  (12/24)

Europe continues to deal with outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/24)

United Kingdom avian flu tally reaches 73 during 2025-26 season.  (12/22)

Recent outbreak of avian flu in Texas affected 260,000 commercial broilers.  (12/18)

Hundreds of snow geese found dead of avian flu at Pennsylvania quarry.  (12/17)

Indiana boosts its 2025 avian flu tally to 66. (12/17)

2025 avian flu tally in Europe:  654 outbreaks in 23 countries.  (12/17)

Texas reports its first case of avian flu since April 2024.  (12/16)

December 1-15, 2025

Minnesota reports 22nd case of avian flu in 2025.  (12/15)

Avian flu detected in Wisconsin dairy herd.  (12/14)

Patterns of avian flu outbreaks in Europe:  From farm to farm then, from wild birds to farms now.  (12/12)

Turkey flocks in North Dakota and South Dakota hit with avian flu.  (12/12)

Indiana boosts its avian flu outbreak tally to 64.  (12/11)

Australia awaits its first case of avian flu.  (12/9)

2025 avian flu tally in Indiana reaches 60.  (12/9)

Japan and South Korea report outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/8)

Avian flu kills more than 70 vultures in Ohio.  (12/7)

Latest avian flu research from Iowa State University.  (12/6)

Michigan DNR sends out an avian flu advisory to waterfowl hunters.  (12/6)

Avian flu kills scores of geese in rural Manitoba Canada.  (12/6)

Canadian province of Alberta deals with worse outbreak of avian flu in years.  (12/6)

Avian flu is a global concern.  (12/5)

Massive outbreak of avian flu in Europe during past week.  (12/3)

North Carolina, Ontario, Indiana, and British Columbia on todays avian flu hit parade. (12/2)

Around the world with avian flu.  (12/1)

Edmunds County South Dakota reports two cases of avian flu in less than a week.  (12/1)

November 15-30, 2025

Avian flu detected in wild birds all over Michigan.  (11/30)

4 Ontario poultry farms hit by avian flu in past 2 weeks.  (11/30)

Indiana-based poultry company uses inflatables to shoo away wild birds.  (11/26)

52 poultry flocks in Indiana infected by avian flu so far in 2025.  (11/25)

Washington State reports 3 more cases of avian flu.  (11/24)

First human death from H5N5 strain of avian flu reported in Washington State.  (11/23)

South Dakota reports 17th case of avian flu in 2025.  (11/23)

North Carolina reports first case of avian flu since January.  (11/21)

Widespread outbreaks of avian flu in Europe.  (11/17)

Avian flu wipeout in LaGrange County Indiana.  (11/17)

Bird flu spreads while Trump fiddles  and Dept of Ag secretary  Brooke Rollins poses with chickens.  (11/16)

November 1-15, 2025

Avian flu devastates herd of elephant seals on sub-Antarctic island.  (11/14)

Ottawa County Michigan reports 2 more cases of avian flu, bringing its 2025 total to 8. (11/14)

Avian flu taking a toll in Germany.  (11/13)

Wild birds are spreading avian flu across the United States.  (11/13)

Monitoring the health of poultry through their water consumption.  (11/12)

Another Michigan turkey flock infected with avian flu.  (11/11)

British Columbia ostrich farm loses appeal, 400 birds infected with avian flu depopulated.  (11/11)

]5 swans die of avian flu in Bristol, England.  (11/11)

Germany reports 66 cases of avian flu since October 1.  (11/10)

Avian flu alert in Missouri.  (11/7)

Two recent cases of avian flu in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (11/7)

Japan reports third confirmed outbreak of avian flu this season.  (11/6)

More turkey flocks infected with avian flu in North Dakota and South Dakota.  (11/5)

That raw cheese you're eating might be infected with bird flu virus.  (11/4)

Avian flu infects turkey flock in Michigan.  (11/4)

Four cases of avian flu hit western Canada.  (11/3)

You're right if you think there's been a lot of birds killed by avian flu during the past 2 months.  (11/1)

October 2025

Avian flu hits duck breeder farm in California. (10/29)

139,000 chickens fall victim to avian flu in Georgia.  (10/28)

Avian flu kills elephant seals on Heard Island south of Australia.  (10/25)

Widespread avian flu infections of wild birds in the United States.  (10/24)

Minnesota boosts its 2025 avian flu tally to 20.  (10/23)

Yet another case of avian flu confirmed in Minnesota, bringing total to 19 so far in 2025.  (10/22)

Indiana reports more cases of avian flu.  (10/21)

Quebec reports 4th case of avian flu in 2025.  (10/17)

Three more Minnesota turkey flocks affected by avian flu, bringing 2025 tally to 18 .  (10/16)

Two cases of avian flu reported in Manitoba on consecutive days.  (10/14)

Multiple reports of avian flu including two flocks in Washington State affecting more than 2,200,000 hens.  (10/13)

Bird flu detected in goose at Gibson Park in Great Falls Montana.  (10/12)

Avian flu threat results in cancellation of WIsconsin poultry show.  (10/11)

Avian flu hits two more turkey flock in Minnesota.  (10/10)

Avian flu hits Michigan turkey flock.  (10/9)

Avian flu hits Iowa turkey flock.  (10/7) 

175,000,000 birds have fallen victim to avian flu in United States since 2022.  (10/6)

Migrating season brings a return of avian flu to Iowa.  (10/3)

Jefferson County Wisconsin reports second case of avian flu in less than a week.  (10/3)

September 2025

That Jefferson County Wisconsin farm lost more than 3 million laying hens.  (9/30)

Avian flu claims an historical first death:  Whooping crane.  (9/29)

Wisconsin reports first 2025 commercial case of avian flu in poultry flock without providing any specifics.  (9/29)

Utah in 4th year of avian flu outbreak. (9/27)

Minnesota reports 55,000 cases of avian flu in 3 turkey flocks.  (9/26)

Expect higher prices for your Thanksgiving turkey this year.  (9/26)

South Dakota continues to be hit hard by avian flu.  (9/21)

Minnesota reports avian flu in flock of tom turkeys.  (9/19)

Nebraska reports its first known case of avian flu in dairy herd.  (9/17)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports 4 cases of avian flu in Alberta but otherwise remains mum.  (9/17)

South Dakota reports additional cases of avian flu in turkey flocks.  (9/14)

Must be Kristi Noem's bad karma and her Corey Lewandowski hook-up:  South Dakota is ground zero for avian flu so far this fall.  (9/10)

Avian flu is not going away:  Texas records U.S. case #1079 since January 2024.  (9/9)

April-August 2025

You've heard of avian flu, right?  How about Marek's disease?  (8/7)

Public relations news:  Not a good year so far for chickens and eggs.  (6/13)

Wisconsin put poultry shows and exhibitions on hold in 20 southern counties due to recent bird flu outbreak.  (3/14)

Indiana reports four more cases of bird flu.  (3/13)

Geese go to New Jersey and die of bird flu.  (3/1)