Bird flu update and barn owls

Although seldom seen, nocturnal barn owls are one of the prominent avian species at our Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. That is because of their communal roosts are in the old twin barns from the Brown Farm era that provide that iconic refuge vista that we so appreciate.

Twin Barns with an owl entrance at the peak.

George Walter | The JOLT News

It was very sad to learn last week, from a refuge social post, that biologists who regularly check on these hidden residents found two of the barn owls dead. Donning protective gear, they collected the birds’ remains and sent them to a lab for testing. Both tested positive for avian influenza (bird flu).  

Bird flu is a deadly virus that I first described in a column in May 2024 and in several follow-ups. This virus is highly contagious, is widespread in wild birds and seems to be especially deadly to waterfowl. It has the potential to devastate poultry flocks and that first column included practical advice to protect a home chicken flock. There also have been rare instances of this disease affecting cats and other mammals, including humans. 

This bad news about the owls tells us that now, in December 2025, bird flu remains widespread here in Thurston County. What precautions should you take? Bird flu spreads like other flu viruses, through breathing in droplets of infected nasal discharge. You need to avoid those droplets.  

If you encounter a dead bird, do not handle it. Or, if you must, wear protective gear (a mask — we all have them — and disposable gloves). If you encounter multiple dead birds, you should report your observation to the Washington State Department of Health (local or state) or Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. The later state agency has an on-line reporting site. 

Barn owls also nest in cavities on cliffs.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

Barn owls generally would not seem to be likely victims of bird flu. They prey almost exclusively on rodents, not birds, and they prefer live prey. They don’t flock but they do roost together in small numbers. It seems most likely that one of the Nisqually owls somehow encountered the virus and brought it back to the roost, thus infecting at least one other.  

Of course it’s always useful, even when we’re saddened, to remember that like all life, birds die. And that’s a good thing — no one wants to be knee deep in birds even though we love and enjoy them greatly. The death of small birds usually passes unnoticed, unless this occurs against a window. But in death larger birds, owls, eagles, hawks and the like, are more likely to be seen and perhaps touched.

The most important lesson from this local tragedy is that the risk of deadly disease, not just to chickens and owls but also to us, is right here in our county. That’s why we need robust state and federal agencies to monitor infectious disease, to conduct ongoing research in all diseases and to be prepared to respond quickly should a public health emergency arise.  

When COVID-19 struck, we benefitted from a strong and coordinated response from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and other health agencies. Although there were millions of COVID-19 deaths worldwide, it could have been much worse. And now, just a few years later, the federal budgets for the CDC and other health agencies are being severely cut and their response abilities weakened. What foolishness! Those agencies and their basic research are our first line of defense. 

Currently bird flu, while deadly to barn owls, is not very good at infecting humans. But with a few virus mutations that could change, and quickly. Influenza does not have some sort of special respect for humans. We are fortunate to live in a prosperous nation that can easily afford the best public health and research programs in the world. We need to not just support but demand robust funding for public health. 

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com 

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, an 18-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.