It is concerning news that H5 bird flu has been detected in Petone, Wellington, not far from where I live. After reading a post from Zealandia, I will follow their recommendation, by stopping feeding the birds in my garden.
Although I will no longer provide food, my garden will still be a welcoming place for birds. I have plenty of native plantings that attract them naturally. When the kōwhai trees and other plants flower, the birds will continue to visit. I no longer want to create a situation where large numbers of birds congregate together. Such large gatherings could increase the risk of spreading H5 bird flu.
The birds may not appreciate the change at first, but they are remarkably adaptable. There are many natural food sources available, and I am confident they will adjust quickly. Personally, I do not want to contribute in any way to the potential spread of H5 bird flu in Wellington.
Bird Photography Will Continue
While I am stopping bird feeding, I am not stopping my bird photography or this blog. Instead, I will need to spend a little more time exploring local parks, reserves, and other natural habitats to capture new images.
Thankfully, my health has improved enough that getting out and about is becoming much easier. I also have a large collection of photographs waiting to be processed, so there will still be plenty of bird images to share here in the coming months.
A Simple Message from Zealandia
The advice from Zealandia is both simple and important:
“We love our birds in Wellington. Don’t feed them, let them be wild.”
It is a message worth following while we do our part to help protect our native birdlife.
Final Thoughts
If stopping bird feeding helps reduce the risk of spreading H5 bird flu, then it is a small sacrifice to make. Our gardens can still provide valuable habitat through native plants, clean water, and safe shelter, without encouraging large gatherings around feeders. Hopefully, these precautions will help keep Wellington’s birds healthy for years to come.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II using my Leica 100-400mm lens. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.