1 March 2025
Yesterday’s news was sobering for Pittsburgh’s winter crow flock when the Post-Gazette reported that 50 crows found dead in January tested positive for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. It was the first incidence of avian flu in Allegheny County in more than two years.
The Pittsburgh crows were collected on Jan. 24 and tested positive in preliminary tests for the deadly virus on Feb. 10, said Travis Lau, communications director for the Game Commission.
— Post-Gazette: First Pittsburgh cases of avian flu in years detected in American crows
It’s not hard to imagine how it happened. In January Pittsburgh’s winter flock of 15,000 crows roosts communally and fans out during the day as much as 50 miles to find food. The furthest travelers would have caught bird flu in an infected surrounding county and brought it to the roost. H5N1 is so contagious that it quickly spread to flock mates.
Apparently the crows knew what to do when death visited the roost. Crow watchers noticed that they changed the roost location a lot in January, perhaps avoiding sick birds and death locations. Maybe that’s why we haven’t heard of more crows deaths. Or maybe it simply takes weeks for the reports to reach us.
Meanwhile keep in mind that if you find a sick or dead bird you should not touch it!
Because of the highly contagious nature of the virus among birds, and the fact that, while rare, it can be transmitted to humans, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), the Game Commission and other agencies urge the public not to touch sick or dead birds and report them to the Game Commission.
Anyone who sees a sick or dead wild bird should report it to the PA Game Commission at 833-742-9453.
Residents who suspect their poultry is infected with avian influenza should call the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1.
Residents who feel ill after contact with sick or dead birds should consult their primary care physician or the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.
— Post-Gazette: First Pittsburgh cases of avian flu in years detected in American crows
Read more in the Post-Gazette: First Pittsburgh cases of avian flu in years detected in American crows.
See the 2021-2025 distribution of highly pathogenic (HPAI, H5N1) avian influenza in wild birds in the U.S. by county as of mid-February 2025 here at USDA.
Should we consider taking down bird feeders yet? I’ve been holding off on buying more seed to see what happens next. Very scary situation.
Susan, feeder songbirds are not susceptible to the virus so there’s no need to take down your feeders unless you have backyard chickens or ducks. See this article for details https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2025/01/13/cats-cows-and-cardinals-more-info-on-bird-flu/