If the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is found in North America, will it still be safe to watch birds?
Yes. The only documented case of the virus being transmitted to
people from wild birds is in Azerbaijan. Seven people became ill after defeathering swans, and four later died. If there is
an outbreak among wild birds, it would be important to avoid touching
dead or sick birds. In the area of an outbreak, if you handle birds
through mist netting or rehabilitation, or if you monitor bird nests,
you should follow safety precautions as outlined by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
If the situation changes, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will provide updates on this bird flu web site.