HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut bird-lovers are being requested to cease filling their feeders to assist stop an affliction that’s killing songbirds within the southern and mid-Atlantic states from spreading to this state.
The Connecticut Division of Vitality and Environmental Safety on Thursday requested residents to stop feeding birds and offering water in fowl baths — locations the place birds congregate — till the “mortality occasion” has ceased. Persons are additionally being requested to scrub their feeders and fowl baths with a ten% bleach resolution to assist stop birds from presumably being contaminated.
The Connecticut Audubon Society made the same request earlier this week. Up to now, there have been no experiences of birds in Connecticut affected by the ailment.
“No matter is killing birds may be infectious, so we advocate that you simply cease feeding birds in the intervening time,” the Audubon Society mentioned in an e mail. “The birds received’t undergo in case you take your feeders down — there’s loads of wild meals obtainable presently of yr. And you possibly can put them again up both when it’s clear that the issue received’t present up right here or when it’s over.”
Quite a few younger songbirds have been present in the mid-Atlantic, the Southeast and the japanese higher Midwest with ocular and neurologic points since mid-Could, in line with DEEP. In some circumstances, giant numbers of the birds have been discovered useless, together with 16 in a single location.
The reported signs embody eye swelling and crusty discharge, in addition to quite a few neurological indicators akin to head tremors, weakened leg muscle groups, falling to the facet or the shortcoming to face, and extreme vocalizations. DEEP mentioned nearly all of birds reported to have the affliction have been fledgling widespread grackles, blue jays, European starlings and American robins. Different species of songbirds have additionally been reported.
DEEP is urging residents to keep away from dealing with useless or injured wild birds and to put on gloves if it turns into crucial. Folks ought to hold their pets away from sick or useless birds. In the meantime, useless birds must be positioned in a sealable plastic bag and discarded with family trash to assist stop transmission to different birds and wildlife.
Residents are requested to report any useless birds to Connecticut’s Wild Chicken Mortality Database.
Related steps have been taken in different states. This month, Indiana officers requested folks to take down feeders after counting 285 in poor health or useless birds since Could.
