Birds at the ABQ BioPark Again have Access to Their Outdoor Homes

Dec. 28, 2022

Most of the ABQ BioPark's birds had been moved to their inside habitats in recent months to help protect them from an extraordinarily aggressive "bird flu" season. This move helped keep them separated from wild birds migrating through the area who may have transmitted the disease.

While transmission is still possible, the risk at this point of winter is low. As a result, the veterinary and animal care staff are comfortable reintroducing the birds to their public outdoor homes.  Over the past week, many birds have already returned and are again visible to zoo guests.  The local transmission levels will continue to be monitored, and the birds may again need to be indoors for their protection, particularly in Spring when the avian flu season begins to be more active again.

Out of an abundance of caution, the ABQ BioPark's guest feeders will still remain closed to help prevent wild birds gathering together. Helping to keep birds separate is the best thing we can do to protect them at this time.

For further information on the current status of HPAI, visit the following page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/)