Avian influenza (AI, also known as bird flu) is a highly contagious, infectious bird disease caused by various strains of the influenza virus. Bird flu is spread primarily by migrating waterfowl via their droppings. Anyone or anything that comes in contact with infected droppings can transmit the virus to other birds. "[Bird flu] rides the wind, lives in water, can attach itself to clothes, tires, shovels, manure spreaders…..anything."1 Avian influenza should scare the heck out of all backyard chicken keepers.