More than 60 transmissible diseases, (some of which are fatal) are associated with geese, grackles, pigeons, starlings and house sparrows. Go to this webpage for some of the
diseases. Domesticated birds may become infected with
avian influenza virus aka bird flu, through direct contact with infected waterfowl or other infected poultry, or through contact with surfaces (such as dirt or cages) or materials (such as water or feed) that have been contaminated with virus. People, vehicles, and other inanimate objects such as cages can be vectors for the spread of influenza virus from one farm to another. When this happens, avian influenza outbreaks can occur among poultry. Click here to read recent news articles about the spread of
H5N1 avian influenza virus - aka bird flu .