Six birds test positive for avian flu in Orange County
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE — Three birds tested positive for the H5 avian flu virus at several locations, including two on the Santa Ana River on Monday, the National Park Service said.
The birds were from the following species: Red-tailed Hawk, American Robin, White-eyed Junco, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, White-tailed Sparrow, Common Grackle and House Finch, the National Park Service said.
No other birds tested positive on Monday, said National Park Service spokeswoman Susanne Mitchell.
The three positive birds are on display at the John L. Lawrence National Wildlife Refuge in Orange, on the Santa Ana River and at the Del Boca Vista Nature Center, said Mitchell.
All three birds have since been destroyed.
The John L. Lawrence National Wildlife Refuge is a California National Wildlife Refuge and is on the shores of the Santa Ana River about a mile northeast of Santa Ana Airport and east of Garden Grove City Park.
One bird was tested early Monday morning, and another was on display at the John L. Lawrence Refuge as early as Friday.
The bird on display at the John L. Lawrence Refuge was a Red-tailed Goose that was first identified by the North American Wildlife Health Center in Ohio. The bird was euthanized and tested on Sunday, the NPS said.
The other two birds were brought in earlier Monday, the NPS said. The birds were part of a large flock of Red-tailed Hawks that were at the John L. Lawrence Refuge, where they were observed “in large numbers.”
The birds at the John L. Lawrence National Wildlife Refuge, the Del Boca Vista Nature Center and Santa Ana River were all tested and found to be negative and have been destroyed, according to the NPS.
The birds at the John L. Lawrence Refuge were tested on Friday and found to be positive for H5, the NPS said.
Three birds were put into quarantine. The NPS said they could have tested positive for another disease or other viruses.
The birds will be quarantined for seven days and then euthanized. The three birds will be buried at a date