Saturday, July 4, 2026

Bird flu and peregrine falcons along Virginia Eastern Shore

 
Photo and headline:  WBOC Delmarva, 7/3/2026

Sean Curtis reports:
Researchers with William & Mary's Center for Conservation Biology found peregrine falcons nesting in coastal areas of Virginia and New Jersey experienced steep declines in survival and territory occupancy after bird flu arrived along the Atlantic Flyway in 2022. The study was published this year in the journal Scientific Reports. 
Accomack County and Virginia's barrier islands, which host internationally important populations of migrating shorebirds every spring, are also home to a once-rebounding peregrine population. In 1981, scientists attempted to restore peregrine falcon numbers in Virginia following declines due to DDT poisoning. A breeding pair was first introduced on Wallops Island, with the first successful nesting occurring in 1982 on Assateague Island, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Other bird flu posts:
July 2026

June 21-30

June 11-20:

June 1-10:

May 16-31

May 11-15

May 6-10

May 1-5:

April 26-30:

April 21-25:
California bird flu news:  It's everywhere, it's everywhere!  (4/23)

April 16-20
 
April 11-15:

April 6-10:  
Even the 1% have to deal with bird flu  (The Hamptons Long Island edition).  (4/9)

April 1-5
Lancaster County Pennsylvania reports yet another case of bird flu. (4/1

March 26-31:

March 21-25:

March 16-20:

March 11-15, 2025

March 6-10, 2026.  

March 1-5, 2026

February 20-28,2026
SHOCKER!!  Dead birds found in Ohio gated community.  Bird flu suspected.  (2/21)

February 10-19, 2026
February 1-9, 2026

January 21-31, 2026

January 11-20, 2026
New York tells resident don't touch those dead birds.  (1/17)

January 1-10, 2026
Bird flu strain of avian influenza:  "The picture has grown darker and stranger than most would have imagined".  (1/8)
Bird flu reported on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. (1/8)Dozens of vultures die of bird flu in North Carolina.  (1/8)

December 16-31, 2025

December 1-15, 2025

November 15-30, 2025

November 1-15, 2025

October 2025

September 2025

April-August 2025

6th and 7th cases of bird flu reported in Australia

 
Headline:  The Conservation , 7/3/2026
A suspected case of H5 bird flu has been detected in a giant petrel found near Hawks Nest on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, marking the first time the virus has turned up in a wild bird in the state. 
Samples returned a positive result in preliminary tests, and have been sent to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness for confirmation. The detection comes at the same time as another unconfirmed positive result in Western Australia. 
If confirmed, these will be Australia’s sixth and seventh detections of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in less than three weeks, following earlier cases found in wild birds in WA and South Australia since June 14.

Other bird flu posts:
July 2026

June 21-30

June 11-20:

June 1-10:

May 16-31

May 11-15

May 6-10

May 1-5:

April 26-30:

April 21-25:
California bird flu news:  It's everywhere, it's everywhere!  (4/23)

April 16-20
 
April 11-15:

April 6-10:  
Even the 1% have to deal with bird flu  (The Hamptons Long Island edition).  (4/9)

April 1-5
Lancaster County Pennsylvania reports yet another case of bird flu. (4/1

March 26-31:

March 21-25:

March 16-20:

March 11-15, 2025

March 6-10, 2026.  

March 1-5, 2026

February 20-28,2026
SHOCKER!!  Dead birds found in Ohio gated community.  Bird flu suspected.  (2/21)

February 10-19, 2026
February 1-9, 2026

January 21-31, 2026

January 11-20, 2026
New York tells resident don't touch those dead birds.  (1/17)

January 1-10, 2026
Bird flu strain of avian influenza:  "The picture has grown darker and stranger than most would have imagined".  (1/8)
Bird flu reported on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. (1/8)Dozens of vultures die of bird flu in North Carolina.  (1/8)

December 16-31, 2025

December 1-15, 2025

November 15-30, 2025

November 1-15, 2025

October 2025

September 2025

April-August 2025