H5N1 Prevention Initiative: Documentary Video Trailer (above)

The H5N1 Prevention documentary is a part of a multi-layered advocacy initiative, The H5N1 Prevention Initiative, whose mission is to combat avian influenza. The Initiative consists of a documentary, live presentations, a fundraising platform, and a Bird Center Hub to support bird centers' HPAI efforts.

A grant from the Hershey Corporation helped underwrite the H5N1 Prevention documentary, which features experts in ornithology, epidemiology, and health policy sharing information on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, as well as on bird organizations' preparedness measures and community safeguarding.

As a birding enthusiast, public health advocate, and activist filmmaker, Jack Aronian founded the initiative and created/produced the documentary to highlight the devastating impacts of bird flu and its threat as a potential pandemic.

Aronian views bird centers as key intermediaries for protecting the public and disseminating government-issued health information about Avian Influenza. Dedicated members of bird organizations and their connections to environmental groups can play a critical role in catalyzing public engagement.

The H5N1 Prevention Initiative aims to raise awareness of avian influenza, fundraise for the vital role of bird centers, and share how our collective efforts can protect avian species and life on Earth.

100% of the proceeds from the H5N1 Prevention documentary benefit bird organizations.

Aside from flash headlines about egg shortages, Bird Flu is not a topic in most schools or in teen conversations. As a generation that lived through a pandemic, we must mobilize to combat zoonotic epidemics that could potentially be the next pandemics.

Thank you for considering the H5N1 Prevention Initiative's mission to raise awareness of bird flu and support avian organizations' efforts to combat highly pathogenic viruses and safeguard all creatures great and small. Storytelling is how we inspire change. If I can connect someone to birds, or to any other important cause, through filmmaking—that's when science becomes real.

Thank you for helping birds soar!

Jack Aronian

Activist Documentarian, Advocate for Avian & Public Health

Thank you for your support:

*100% of Donations Support Bird Organizations (list in formation)

•National Audubon Society

•Sharon Audubon Center, Sharon Connecticut

•Green Chimneys, Brewster, New York

•Nature Center at Greenburgh, New York

•Cornell Lab of Ornithology, New York

•Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, New York

•New Hope Bird Alliance, North Carolina

•Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, CA

•Recent "H5N1 Prevention Initiative" Presentations/Screenings:

Stanford University Undergraduate Global Public Health Club,

January 13, 2026, 8pm pst

•Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance, California Alliance, Speaker Series

November 12, 2025, 7pm pst

•Town of Greenburgh, NY Public Access TV

-Channel 75 on Cablevision

-Channel 34 on Verizon FiOS

-Channel 76 and Channel 35: Government Access

Screening All Sundays in September 2025 (12pm, 6pm)

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•Hershey Company Grantee & Youth Service America sponsored event:

The "H5N1 Awareness & Prevention /Documentary"

Experts in Ornithology, Public Policy and Epidemiology

April 30th (6pm), at The Mahopac Library, NY

H5N1 experts' input & actionable tips for the community

*30 minute documentary

In-person Introduction:

*New York Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne

*Attending: North Salem, NY Supervisor Warren Lucas

Noted Participants/Attendees:

• Dr. Lewis Kohl, Chief Medical Director, Medical Information Officer, Safety Officer of Optum Tri-State

• Dr. Alison Kaufman, Lead Epidemiologist, Putnam County

Department of Health, NY

• Chris Nadereski, Section Chief/Wildlife Studies, Research Scientist, Department of Environmental Protection, NYC

• Maureen P. Doherty, Farm Program Mgr., Green Chimneys,

Brewster, NY

• David Spillo, Green Chimneys, Wildlife Program Manager/Federal Rehabilitator, NY

•Amandine Gamble, Ph.D., DvM. Cornell University, Disease Ecologist & Veterinarian

• Dr. Mario Ramirez, Former Acting Director, HHS Office of Global Affairs Office of Pandemic & Emerging Threats

• Director Eileen Fielding, Ph.D., Sharon Audubon Center (rebuilding center, quarantine unit), CT

•Sunny Kellner, Head of Bird Rehab, Sharon Audubon, CT

• Andrew Michalski, Animal Husbandry Manager, Nature Center at Greenburgh, NY

• Nigel Sizer, Ph.D., Executive Director, Preventing Pandemics at the Source, Former CEO of The Rainforest Alliance

• Hugh Powell, Senior Science Editor, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY

• Dr. Dianne Aronian, Yorktown Heights, NY, wife of the former Dr. John Aronian, the author, "Montauk Trilogy"/Smew" (foretold Bird Flu's community spread)

Additional Interviews:

•Chad Wilsey, Ph.D. Chief Scientist, National Audubon Society

• Ross McKinney, Vice President, New Hope Bird Alliance, Durham, Orange, Chatham, North Carolina

• Peter Kaestner, Former US diplomat, Guinness World Record Holder "10,000 Bird Species Sighted" & Discovered new species eponymously named "Grallaria kaestneri"

• Stephen W. Kress, Ph.D., Ornithologist, Founder of Project Puffin, Former Vice President of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon, Director of the Society's Maine Coast Seabird Sanctuaries, Visiting Fellow, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Mark Pokras, D.V.M., Conservationist, Associate Professor of Wildlife Medicine (Emeritus), Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Disease & Global Health, Tufts University

• Meredith Barges, Policy Advocate & Educator, Chair, Lights Out Central New York, Co-founder of Lights Out, CT

Previous Online Hosted Screenings:

Tuesday, 7/1 (8pm)

Tuesday, 7/8 (8pm)

Tuesday 8/5 (1:30pm)

•Green Chimneys, NY

•Sharon Audubon, CT, National Audubon Society (online)

•Nature Center at Greenburgh, NY

•New Hope Bird Alliance, NC

•Global Education Benchmark Group/Institute for Global Learning, NY

•St. Luke's School, CT

Previous Avian Video Projects & Hands on Assist:

•DEP Peregrine Falcon Chick Banding, New York Hospital, NY

•DEP Red Tail Hawk release, Delaware County Fair, NY

•Greenwich Audubon, CT, Promo Fundraising Video,

-Director Rochelle Thomas & Senior Center Assistant Josey Gardner

•Sharon Audubon Center, CT, Raptors & Riesling Fundraiser Video

*H5N1 Prevention Initiative Advisors:

•Animal Science Research Department, Cornell University

•Peter Kaestner, Former US Diplomat, Ornithologist, & Guinness World Record "10,000 Bird Species Sighted", Discovered new species eponymously named "Grallaria kaestneri"

• Chris Nadereski, Section Chief/Wildlife Studies, Research Scientist, Department of Environmental Protection, NYC

•Heather J. Huson, Ph.D., Co-Assoc. Chair of Animal Science Dept., Director of the Raptor Program, Cornell University

•Meghan Jensen, Ph.D., Raptor Program Manager, Cornell University

•Peter Kaestner, Former US Diplomat, Ornithologist, & Guinness World Record "10,000 Bird Species Sighted", Discovered new species eponymously named "Grallaria kaestneri"

• Chris Nadereski, Section Chief/Wildlife Studies, Research Scientist, Department of Environmental Protection, NYC

•Warren Lucas, Mayor of North Salem, NY

•Kevin Byrne, County Executive of Putnam County, NY

•Janet Jochem, Science Department Chair St. Luke’s School, CT

•Jocelyn Anderson, Director of Leadership Giving at the National Audubon Society