Bird lovers, beware: a nasty, deadly disease known as avian pox has been spotted in Victoria.
On Thursday morning, walkers along Dallas Road spotted several crows near Linden Avenue showing clear signs of avian pox, a viral disease that affects many bird species.
A local resident posted photos and expressed concerns on Facebook. They noted that several birds had wart-like growths around their eyes and beaks, a common sign of the illness.
Avian pox is a slow-developing disease caused by avipoxviruses. It can spread through mosquito bites or by contact with contaminated surfaces like feeders, perches, or even dust.
Although the disease occurs worldwide, cases in BC are usually sporadic. Most often, it affects passerines such as crows, finches, and doves, as well as raptors like eagles.
The virus does not infect humans.
Birds with avian pox often develop wart-like nodules on featherless areas, including the legs, feet, and face. These lesions can hinder a bird's ability to see, breathe, or feed.
Two forms of the disease are recognized:
Cutaneous form, the most common, produces external nodules. Birds may recover if they can avoid secondary infections.
Diphtheritic form, less common but more severe, causes lesions inside the mouth or respiratory tract and can lead to labored breathing.
In both BC and other areas, outbreaks typically occur in late summer and fall when mosquito activity is highest and birds gather in larger groups.
Wildlife experts suggest avoiding direct contact with sick birds. Residents with bird feeders or baths should clean them regularly using a 5% bleach solution to help prevent the spread of the virus. Eliminating standing water can also reduce mosquito breeding.
Sightings of infected birds can be reported to the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship or to local wildlife rescue groups.
While avian pox can be deadly if lesions stop birds from eating or breathing properly, many infected birds do recover with time if they are otherwise healthy.