New Hope Born After Avian Flu: 3.7K Crescent Duck Farm Eggs Hatch.

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RIVERHEAD, NY — A flock of talented Long Island chefs will come together Friday night to support the staff of Crescent Duck Farm, recently shuttered after an outbreak of avian influenza.

But new hope was born this week as thousands of new eggs hatched — signaling the possibility of a future for the iconic business.

Until then, Michael Bohlsen, co-owner of the Bohlsen Restaurant Group, a board member at Long Island Cares, and a Captree Island resident, is co-hosting a fundraiser with Francis Derby for the laid-off employees at Crescent Duck Farm.

The event,"Flock Together: A Culinary Tribute to Crescent Duck Farm," will take place this Friday night at Bohlsen’s Tellers Next Door restaurant, located at 599 Main Street in Islip. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature chef-led food stations, local cocktails and wines, an auction and donation opportunities.

Chefs who will lend their talents include Derby of Shands General, Ben Hoffman of Prime: An American Kitchen and Bar, Christian Mir of the Stone Creek Inn, Steve Gallagher of The Trattoria, Ryan Hardy of Delicious Hospitality Group, Steve Rizzo of Off the Block Meats, Berenice de Araujo of the North Fork Table & Inn, and Keenan Boyle of Tall Mutha Shucka.

Drinks will be donated by the Montauk Brewing Co., Wolffer Estate Vineyard, and The Better Man Distilling Co.

All proceeds will go directly to help Crescent Farms’ laid-off workers, "ensuring they remain employed, and the farm can eventually reopen," organizers said.

While online ticket sales are sold out, a GoFundMe has also been created to help. To donate, click here.

It's not the first time the community has joined hands and hearts during the time of great need: "Locals helping locals." That was the slogan for an event on Feb. 1 at North Fork Brewing Co. that was also organized and meant to help workers at Crescent Duck Farms, where an outbreak of avian bird flu left owners with no choice but to cull their entire flock and quarantine the business.

And now, there is hope in sight for a new beginning: Doug Corwin, owner of the farm, runs the business with his sons, Pierce W. Corwin and Blake Corwin. This week, Pierce, live production manager, confirmed with Patch that they "hatched out about 3.7K birds at an offsite hatchery and are now raising them offsite until we finish the cleaning process on our farm and have the quarantine lifted."

The plan, he said, "is to raise these ducks to maturity, have them breed and then, as we build up numbers, start producing again. Not a short process, as these birds won’t start producing eggs until six months from now," Pierce said.

He added that his family is touched and heartened by the outpouring of concern from the community. "It’s amazing how much love and support we have been getting from the local community and the restaurant industry at large," he said. "It’s deeply upsetting to have to lay off so many employees, most of whom have been with us for many years — and it’s amazing that so many people have come together to help them."

In January, Suffolk County health officials announced the outbreak of avian influence at the iconic Long Island poultry farm.

Crescent Duck Farm, located in Aquebogue, had to euthanize 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.

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

The farm's owner, Corwin, reported signs of illness in his flock early the previous 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 has been 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 that none of the potentially exposed workers was ill, county officials said.

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 minimal, 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 housed 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 and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have also been involved in the response, officials said.

Both agencies have been 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.

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.

Many across Long Island spoke out about how much the farm means not just to the culinary canvas, but to the community, including Chef Bujoreanu, who spoke to Patch about his reaction to the devastating news.

Gov. Kathy Hochul also announced New York State’s ongoing proactive measures to prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza and facilitate early detection, particularly on New York farms.

Following the detection of HPAI in poultry on Crescent Duck Farm and in several wild and domestic birds at a learning center in Putnam County, the state is encouraging organizations in contact with wild birds to remain vigilant for signs of illness in their domestic animals. Farms are urged to practice biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the virus. While HPAI can spread quickly among wild birds and poultry, there have been no documented human cases in New York State, and the risk to humans is low, she reiterated.

"At my direction, New York State is continuing to monitor for HPAI and take proactive measures to keep our communities safe," Hochul said. "While the risk to public health remains low, I encourage all New Yorkers, especially individuals frequently in contact with poultry and wild birds, to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect our state."

While both recent HPAI cases are under control and surveillance of surrounding farms continues, the state urged those involved in poultry production to take extra steps to prevent their flocks from becoming infected. All poultry producers, from small backyard to large commercial operations, should review biosecurity plans and take precautions to protect their birds.

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings, Hochul said. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time, particularly as the state continues to see HPAI detections in wild bird populations.