Burrowing Owl Centre To Open Without Star Attractions Due To Bird Flu Risk
By Robert Thomas
When the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre opens this weekend it will be without its star attractions - the burrowing owls themselves.
And it’s all because of one thing - the threat of high pathogenic avian flu.
Not only will they’re not be any owls for the public to view at the Interpretive Centre’s opening this weekend there will also not be the annual public picnic and viewing.
“Last year we had a opening day with no birds, but it doesn’t make for a good opening day,” George Fowler general manager of the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company told the Exhibition’s board explaining why the Centre’s major fundraiser won’t be held at the opening this year.
A burrowing sits in its outdoor enclosure - MJ Independent file photo
The decision has been made to hold a public event with the owls at a later date.
“Once we get them out(side) in July or wrapping up the season we can do something then…it misses something when you have an owl centre and there’s no birds out for them to see,” Fowler said.
What Is Avian Flu???
High pathogenic Avian Flu or as it is commonly known “bird flu” is according to Agriculture Canada is caused a highly contagious and usually fatal influenza A virus.
This virus can affect several species of food-producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, guinea fowl, etc.), as well as pet and wild birds.
There is no vaccine or cure for high pathogenic Avian Flu with affected birds and the flocks they are part of euthanized to stop any potential spread of the virus.
If one of the owls living at the Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre were to catch avian flu the result would be devastating as all the Moose Jaw owls would be euthanized as a result.
A pair of owls enjoy the great outdoors a few years ago in their enclosure - MJ Independent file photo
To prevent any possible spread to the owls the flock will remain indoors and away from the general public.
Avian flu can be spread from something as small as infected bird droppings tracked in from on a shoe.
This is the second year in a row that the birds will be sequestered indoors away from other birds and people alike to protect the owls. The same thing happened in 2022 with the owls not taken outside to their enclosures until after the threat had passed.
SEE RELATED - Precautions Taken To Protect Burrowing Owls
Vets Expert Advice Being Followed
The burrowing owls are being kept indoors away from other birds and the public on advice from veterinarians at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Their advice (veterinarians at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Veterinary Medicine) is not to put the birds out yet but apparently, and I’m not privy to it, but apparently there’s been a lot of dead geese around…we’re not concerned about that yet, but apparently it’s moved into the seagulls’ population,” he said.
The Moose Jaw Exhibition grounds is known as a major hang out for seagulls especially later into the summer months.
Seagulls, a protected bird species, like to congregate on the roofs of the Exhibition’s large buildings. Killing or harming a seagull is against federal laws.
Although the zoo in Saskatoon intends to put their raptors out for display they do not have any burrowing owls.
“She (a vet) said to error in caution because burrowing owls are an endangered species. There would be a whole lot of trouble if we put them out and something bad were to happen.”
Owls In Great Shape
As part of their visit to the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre veterinarians from the University of Saskatchewan also checked the owls’ health.
“The vets were down last week and weighed them and everything and everybody (all of the owls) seemed to have wintered OK. Their weights were down just marginally but that’s a common occurrence,” Fowler said.
Avian Flu Prevention
Avian flu is also a threat to a pet birds as well last year Saskatchewan Agriculture answered questions from MJ Independent about pet birds, and the bird flu.
To see how to protect your pets you can read the story here.