Bird flu has faded somewhat from the headlines, but it has not disappeared.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called H5N1 or bird flu, continues to circulate among wild birds in the United States and around the world.
For property managers, that deserves attention—but not panic.
The CDC continues to describe the risk to the general public as low. There is currently no known person-to-person spread in the United States, and federal surveillance through August 1, 2026 showed no unusual influenza activity in people.
New York has also reported no human cases of H5N1 to date, according to the New York State Department of Health.
At the same time, the virus remains present in the environment.
That makes this a good time for commercial property owners and managers to review a simple principle:
Wild birds should remain outside buildings, and people should avoid unnecessary exposure to sick birds, dead birds and accumulated bird waste.
H5N1 Has Been Found Throughout New York City
New York City has been monitoring H5N1 for several years.
According to NYC Health, H5N1 has been detected in all five boroughs since it was first identified in the city in 2022. Recent detections have involved wild birds, birds in live-bird markets and captive birds, as well as a small number of mammals.
Health officials emphasize that the greatest human risk comes from close, prolonged and unprotected contact with infected animals or contaminated environments, not simply from walking past a pigeon on the sidewalk.
That distinction matters.
Seeing birds around a commercial building does not mean those birds have H5N1.
Nor does bird activity around a property mean that employees, tenants or visitors face an imminent bird-flu threat.
But public-health guidance consistently recommends avoiding direct contact with sick or dead wild birds and avoiding surfaces contaminated with bird feces.
That is a sensible building-management practice even without H5N1.
Bird Waste Was Already a Building Problem
Avian flu adds another reason to take bird activity seriously, but it is hardly the only one.
Pigeons, gulls, starlings and other nuisance birds can create substantial maintenance and sanitation problems around commercial properties.
Droppings accumulate on entrances, ledges, roofs, HVAC equipment and loading docks. Nesting material can collect around drains and mechanical areas. Bird nests can support mites and other secondary pests. Repeated cleanup adds expense, while acidic droppings can damage building materials and equipment.
Heavy accumulations of waste can also expose maintenance personnel and contractors to biological material that should be handled appropriately.
Bell Bird Control’s professional cleanup and disinfecting services are designed for these situations. Our trained technicians clean contaminated commercial areas using appropriate protective procedures rather than treating significant bird-waste accumulations like ordinary dirt.
H5N1 does not create the need for good bird management.
It reinforces it.
Fall and Winter Deserve Particular Attention
Timing matters in the Northeast.
NYC Health notes that H5N1 detections in wild birds and other animals in the city have tended to occur during colder periods when migrating water birds gather in large groups and influenza viruses can survive longer in the environment.
That makes fall a sensible time to inspect commercial properties for recurring bird activity.
Are birds repeatedly roosting over entrances?
Are nests established around mechanical equipment?
Is bird waste accumulating on roofs, loading docks or service areas?
Are droppings building up where employees or contractors routinely work?
Has an older bird-control system become damaged or ineffective?
The goal is not to assume every bird is diseased.
The goal is to avoid allowing a manageable bird problem to become a sanitation, maintenance or exposure problem.
Bird Control Is About Prevention, Not Harming Birds
Modern commercial bird control does not need to harm birds.
Bell Bird Control has more than 25 years of experience designing humane exclusion and deterrent programs for commercial, institutional and industrial properties.
Depending on the building and bird pressure, solutions may include netting, wire systems, spikes, electrical deterrent tracks and other physical methods that make problem locations unattractive for roosting or nesting.
The objective is straightforward:
Prevent birds from establishing themselves where they create problems for buildings and people.
You can learn more about Bell’s commercial bird-control services and our broader discussion of bird-related health risks.
What If You Find a Sick or Dead Bird?
This is one situation where normal building maintenance should stop.
Do not have an employee simply pick up a sick or dead wild bird with bare hands.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advises the public not to handle or transport sick wildlife themselves and provides a system for reporting suspected HPAI mortality in wild birds.
NYC Health likewise provides guidance for reporting and safely dealing with potentially infected birds.
That is different from routine pigeon exclusion or bird-waste cleanup and should be treated accordingly.
A Sensible Response to an Ongoing Risk
Bird flu is worth following.
It is not a reason for commercial property managers to become alarmed every time a pigeon lands on a roof.
The current public-health risk remains low.
But H5N1 is another reminder that birds are wildlife, and close exposure to wildlife, nests, droppings and contaminated environments should not be normalized inside or around heavily occupied commercial properties.
For building owners, the practical approach is the same one Bell has recommended for years:
Keep birds from establishing problem areas. Address significant waste properly. Correct recurring conditions rather than repeatedly cleaning up after them. And bring in the appropriate public-health or wildlife authority when sick or dead birds are involved.
That protects the building, reduces unnecessary exposure and improves the environment for employees, tenants, visitors—and the birds themselves.
Learn More
Bell Bird Control — Commercial Bird Control
Bell Bird Control — Bird Waste Cleanup & Disinfection
Bell Bird Control — Bird Health Risks
CDC — Current H5 Bird Flu Situation
