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At least 23 bald eagles have died from a highly infectious new bird flu strain spreading through Florida’s wild bird populations, according to state wildlife data. Brevard County leads the state with eight eagle deaths. At least one eagle died in Indian River County since the virus was first detected in Florida in January, state data shows. Eagles make up just a fraction of the «several thousand» estimated cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) among Florida’s wild ducks, vultures, owls, pelicans and several other species, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute spokesperson Carly Jones. Florida bird flu: Virus confirmed in 12 counties with several thousand cases estimated TCPalm investigation: Data proves Florida pollution prevention not working Algal blooms: FEMA would pay Floridians affected by toxic algal blooms The nation’s bald eagle population has largely thrived over the past three decades, despite the threats of car collisions, habitat loss, powerline electrocutions and lead poisoning — its greatest threat, according to Jack Davis, a Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the recent book » The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird. » «It is sad to see the flu’s impact on all birds and will be equally sad if the flu reverses the bald eagle’s comeback,» Davis said in an email to TCPalm. «It and wildlife officials worked hard to restore the population, and Americans have only recently gotten to know and to appreciate the species after more or less living without it for decades.» Florida has an estimated 1,500 nesting pairs of bald eagles, one of the largest concentrations in the lower 48 states, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
