Reporting Banded Birds
Photo by Ron Holmes
To report a bird with a federal band or color marker, please visit the USGS’ Bird Banding Laboratory website.
Please report swan collars to Northwest Swan Conservation Association.
To report other bands or tags for local projects, please visit the Washington Ornithological Society’s Research page to view current projects, the types of markers they use, and how to report them.
Sick or Injured Swans
Swans that are dead, sick, or injured need to be reported to the WDFW hotline by calling (360) 466-0515. The hotline is monitored several times per day. NOTE: this hotline is not active during the summer months. Any sick or dead swan can be reported to the Northwest Swan Conservation Association at: swaninfo@nwswans.org or by calling (206) 713-3684.
Other Sick or Injured Birds
Contact one of these organizations if you are sure the bird requires rescuing:
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center; https://wolfhollowwildlife.org (San Juan and Island Counties)
Sarvey Wildlife Care Center in Arlington, WA (Snohomish and Skagit Counties)
PAWS Wildlife Center in Snohomish, WA (Snohomish County)
AVIAN INFLUENZA AND BIRD FEEDERS, by Tim Manns
The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has infected and killed many birds and mammals in the United States, including Washington. At this writing in mid-January 2025, the U.S. has also seen 66 confirmed cases in human beings and one death. Because of H5N1’s particularly lethal effects on poultry, it is referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. So far, reports of infected birds in the Skagit are not nearly as extensive as in 2022 when hundreds of Snow Geese succumbed. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported H5N1 in two hunted Mallards in Skagit County in January 2025, in a Trumpeter Swan last November, and in a Snow Goose and Great Horned Owl in October (https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/diseases/bird-flu).
Among birds avian flu for the most part infects waterfowl and predatory birds. Of the thousands of birds testing positively for this flu, only a small percentage are songbirds, perhaps because of their infrequent mingling with waterfowl. This is relevant to the question of whether to take down bird feeders due to avian flu. Here’s what Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has to say (Avian Influenza Outbreak: Should You Take Down Your Bird Feeders? | All About Birds):
“As of January 2025, there is no official recommendation for people to take down bird feeders because of the risk of avian influenza .... The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updates and recommendations about H5N1 in humans.
“There has been widespread transmission of avian flu to wild bird species including waterfowl and raptors. The virus has also been found in mammals that prey on dead birds. However, transmission to songbirds and other typical feeder visitors has been low (about 3% of all cases reported in wild birds), although this may change with increased testing or changes to the virus. That means there is currently a low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.”
The Washington Departments of Health and Agriculture have information about avian influenza in Washington with a focus on poultry flocks. Owners of backyard flocks should take measures to ensure separation of these flocks from wild birds.
Use this form to report a possible avian flu death of a wild bird to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1550804e5fd743668049e06d5ad8836a
For links to additional information about avian influenza in wild and domesticated species, see the more detailed article in the January 2025 Conservation Notes on the Skagit Audubon website: Jan2025ConservationNotes.pdf.