Lake Eola bird flu update: 21 bird fatalities since December 7, 2025

Lake Eola's beloved swans Photo courtesy of City of Orlando

As of January 6, 2026, Orlando officials confirmed that avian influenza, or bird flu, is behind the deaths of 21 birds at Lake Eola Park.

The outbreak began on December 17, 2025, and it’s hit the swan population especially hard. Nineteen of the dead birds were Royal Mute swans. The others: one anhinga, one ibis. Before this started, Lake Eola had around 50 to 60 swans.

City workers, together with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and local vets, jumped in to manage the crisis. Crews are disinfecting park surfaces, focusing on spots with lots of droppings. They also pulled bird feeders to keep birds from gathering and spreading the virus.

The park’s still open, people aren’t at risk, but there are warning signs up. Visitors should steer clear of the birds, watch from a distance, don’t feed them, and avoid droppings. If you do step in something, clean your shoes fast.

Veterinarians recommend letting the outbreak run its course so the remaining birds can develop natural immunity. They expect things to settle down in about a month. This isn’t the first time, either. Back in February 2024, another outbreak killed 15 swans at Lake Eola.