Chef Reacts To Devastating Avian Bird Flu Hitting Iconic LI Duck Farm

AQUEBOGUE, NY — News of an outbreak of avian influence at an iconic Long Island poultry farm has left those on the culinary canvas, as well as community members, heartbroken.

Crescent Duck Farm, located in Aquebogue, has begun euthanizing close to 100,000 ducks, its entire flock, leaving the future of the last remaining duck farm on Long Island uncertain, according to Riverhead Local.

Struck hard by the news, one local chef spoke out about the impact not just on the East End's culinary canvas, but on the community.

Chef Alex Bujoreanu at R.AIRE at the Hampton Maid in Hampton Bays, has incorporated the legendary duck into many of the dishes on his menu.

"It's amazing," Bujoreanu said. "All of our customers love it. I've tried many ducks from different parts of the world. This is the perfect balance between meat and fat."

Bujorneanu said he utilized the whole duck in his culinary creations, including tapas and paella comprised of local monkfish, calamari, artichokes, and the Duck Confit.

Also popular he said is the grilled duck breast, served with polenta, spinach, pears, citrus and a fig demi-glace.

"It's one of the favorites. It gets such good reviews. Everyone is happy," he said.

But for Bujoreanu, the potential loss of the duck farm is so much more than just that of a beloved purveyor.

"It's more than just a dish of the day," he said. "It's about what this business means to the community."

Bujoreanu said he spoke with owner Doug Corwin after the news about the outbreak and the duck cull. "The worst is that he told me he didn't know yet if he could reopen," the chef said. "I told him, 'Guys, we need you. It's more than a business. This impacts everybody on the East End. We all feel proud to have this company here.'"

Corwin did not respond to multiple calls and requests for comment from Patch.

Should the business fail to reopen, Bujoreanu said he and so many others would be deeply disappointed.

He and Corwin, he said, had a conversation recently in December. Crescent Duck Farms and the Corwin family have German roots, just as Bujoreanu said he does; his great-grandfather escaped during World War II and settling in Spain, he said.

His hope, Bujoreanu said, is that the Corwin family can salvage some eggs, which can then be incubated and help to grow a new flock; but even in the best scenario, Bujoreanu said he fears the purveyor would not be back in business until 2026.

Bujoreanu said he and many others just want to help. Without the duck that's become a hallmark of the East End and beyond, he said, "It's not going to be the same."

Others on the East End voiced their sadness. Wendy Zuhoski of Wendy's Deli wrote on social media: "My heart goes out to all involved in The Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue. This is a family run business, a really hardworking family farm. We as local business owners know that in a matter of minutes, we can lose everything. This is one of those times. This is devastating. If there is any way we as a community can help, we sure will."

Suffolk County Department of Health officials, on Tuesday, announced a confirmed detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1 or bird flu, at the farm.

The farm's owner, Doug Corwin, reported signs of illness in his flock early last week, and test results from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the detection of H5N1 on Friday, county officials said.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is working closely with the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management and the New York State Department of Health, officials said.

The department is in contact with Corwin, who reported on Friday that none of the potentially exposed workers was ill, county officials said.

This week, staff began interviewing potentially exposed workers and providing H5N1 testing and preventive medications to those at high risk. Staff are also counseling Corwin, regarding preventive measures, including hand hygiene and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment ,to prevent further exposures to staff, Suffolk County health officials said.

Although workers may have been exposed, H5N1 is not known to be transmitted from human to human at this time and the risk to public health remains low, officials said.

"The risk to public health is minima,l as the virus at this point is not transmissible among humans. A full investigation is underway because there is some potential for transmission of the H5N1 bird flu from the infected birds to individual farm workers who had high-risk exposures," said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Health Commissioner.

The farm houses more than 100,000 birds and is currently under quarantine. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are also involved in the response, officials said.

Both agencies are on site at the farm advising on depopulating, cleaning, and disinfection activities.

H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in wild birds and poultry in New York since 2022. Since March 2024, the USDA has confirmed that cows on dairy farms in multiple states have tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza. The virus has been found in raw (unpasteurized) milk and secretions from the noses of cows on these farms.

To date, there have been no human cases of avian influenza and no detections in cattle in New York.

The announcement prompted reminders for commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the H5N1virus. To learn more about biosecurity measures, click here.

To report sick or dead birds, call the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502 for poultry, or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 518-478-2203 for wild birds.

Crescent Duck Farm, according to its website, was founded by Henry Corwin in 1908 in Aquebogue, on land that had been in the Corwin family since the 1600s. The business has remained family-owned and operated, the last bastion of an industry that once defined the East End.