As the US experiences its first highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in poultry since 2014, many are watching closely to see how this new outbreak will play out and what it will cost in terms of bird losses and dollars. The USDA surveillance program that tests migratory birds has been ongoing since 2006 and serves as an early warning system for the introduction and geographic distribution of avian influenza viruses of concern. The recent poultry outbreak certainly has followed the migration patterns of wild populations. On January 13, 2022, the…