Bird flu is here. Let's look after our birds together.
It’s still considered safe to keep using your bird feeders with a bit of extra cleaning.
Last updated 19 July 2026.
Please note this is a changing situation. To read the latest government advice, please visit mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu.
Bird flu has reached New Zealand for the first time, and if you are supporting the garden birds you kohabit with, you're likely wondering what it means for the little visitors you've come to know, and what you can do to help.
The positive news is that with the current situation, it’s still considered safe to keep using your bird feeders with a bit of extra cleaning.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) have provided some clear guidelines on how we can all help.
Kohab was set up to help others find the magic of birdlife in their everyday spaces, and our business is based on providing products for wild NZ birds. So it's important to us that we share the government advice on how to support our birdlife during this time.
Government advice as at 19 July 2026
We're advised that we don't need to take down bird feeders at this time. However, regular cleaning is now required.
The virus spreads via bird droppings and saliva left on shared surfaces, and feeders are a shared surface. This is why regular feeder cleaning is important.
To read the official government advice, please visit mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu.
What to do with your feeders
Nectar feeders (such as the Kohab Bird Feeder with a bowl)
Wash them every day.
If daily feels like too much, that's completely fine. Just take it down for now rather than leaving it out uncleaned. No feeder is safer than a dirty one.
Fruit feeders (such as the Kohab Fruit Feeders and Kohab Branch)
Currently there isn’t specific advice about these types of feeders; however, as they are communally used we suggest you wash them every day and making sure you remove any old or soft fruit.
Bird baths
Currently there isn’t specific advice about bird baths, but again, as they are communally used, we suggest you wash them every day and refresh with clean water.
If daily washing isn't doable, remove them from your garden for now.
Birdhouses and nest boxes
Birdhouses and nesting boxes aren't shared by lots of different birds, so these are much lower risk.
Leave any active nest well alone. Don't disturb it.
Clean out empty boxes between nesting seasons.
How to clean your bird feeders, baths and birdhouses
How to clean your bird feeders: Use hot water and a squirt of washing-up liquid. Give them a good scrub, make sure you clean all areas well, then rinse off with clean water. Always wear gloves.
Use hot water and a squirt of washing-up liquid.
Give them a good scrub, make sure you clean all areas well, then rinse off with clean water.
Always wear gloves.
At Kohab HQ we use a bucket of hot water in the garden rather than cleaning in an inside sink. It only takes a minute, and it's super easy once you're in the routine.
What to do if you find a sick or dead bird
Some birds can recover from bird flu so it’s important that if you see a sick bird, don't touch or move it, simply leave it be.
If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds together, give the MPI hotline a call on: 0800 80 99 66
To keep up to date with the latest advice, please visit the Ministry for Primary Industries website: mpi.govt.nz/bird-flu.
About our business
Bird flu could have a big impact on our business, but what is most important is that we protect our wonderful birdlife.
If you feel you can't clean your feeders every day, we suggest you remove them for now. You'll still be able to enjoy the birds around you, you may just need to look a bit harder, but they'll still be there, getting on with their daily lives, and we can continue to enjoy cohabitating our spaces together.
The Kohab Bird Feeder was designed for NZ’s large Tūī.
The Kohab Nectar Bird Feeding Kit is perfect for offering nectar and fruit
Kohab Bird Nectar is perfect to attract Tūī and other native birds to your garden.
