Hannah Reed and Christin Nance Lazerus, Post-Tribune
A mystery ailment has killed or sickened around 285 songbirds across 15 counties in Indiana, including Lake County, and state officials have advised residents to remove their bird feeders and houses to prevent the congregation of birds that could possibly spread the sickness further.
The affected birds — seen in Clark, Delaware, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, LaGrange, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Newton, St. Joseph, Union, Washington and Whitley counties — showed neurological signs of illness as well as eye swelling and crusty discharge.
“Currently, we do not know what is causing songbirds to become ill or to die,” said Bret D. Marsh, DVM, Indiana State Veterinarian, in a Indiana State Board of Animal Health June 28 press release. “We are coordinating with Indiana DNR to investigate reports of sick birds. However, laboratory testing has not yet determined if this is a disease or some other agent.”
Allisyn Gillet, the state ornithologist with the DNR, said the condition was first observed in May in Washington, DC, area, but since then, die offs have occurred in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky.
Gillet said Indiana sent samples from 12 birds to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, and they all tested negative for West Nile virus and avian influenza.
“They didn’t come to any conclusive results,” Gillet said. “We’ve shared the results with the (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center and they’re coordinating with the areas affected to see if they could come up with a more defined disease.”
Gillet said several species are affected, including blue jay, American robin, common grackle, Northern cardinal and European starling, among others.
Gillet said the condition bears some similarities with house finch eye disease, which is similar to pinkeye and causes eye discharge that makes it difficult for the finches to see. She said some birds with the condition are observed clumsily scratching an eye against its foot or a perch. But the current mystery affliction includes neurological effects not seen with house finch eye disease.
The bird feeder advisory that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources sent out on June 25 recommends that people to stop feeding birds until the mortality event has concluded, clean feeders and baths with a 10% bleach solution, avoid handling birds, wear disposable gloves when removing dead birds and place birds and gloves in a sealable plastic bag to dispose with household trash, and keep pets away from sick or dead birds as a precaution.
Gillet said the reason behind the bird feeder advisory didn’t have anything to do with thoughts that bird feed might be a problem, but to cut down on birds congregating together and possibly spreading the disease, similar to social distancing advisories to cut down on the spread of COVID-19.
“This includes bird baths too, anything that may cause birds to congregate, even casting out food at ponds,” Gillet said. “We’re advising people to cease feeding birds altogether.”
Bonnie Swarner, a board member with the Westchester Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Chesterton, said they haven’t encountered any sick or dead songbirds, but they don’t put bird feeders out on the property.
“The bluebirds are out there,” Swarner said. “We try to plant bushes and trees that will provide food for the birds.”
Gillet said bird friendly plantings, like purple coneflowers, bee balm, and black eyed Susans, can help space out birds so as not to spread the unknown disease further.
A June 28 press release from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health says veterinarians with the BOAH recommend hobby flock owners take steps to protect their animals.
Poultry owners are encouraged to protect their chickens, ducks, turkeys and other domestic species from any potential exposure to wild birds and to use good biosecurity for small flocks.
“Good biosecurity practices mean keeping poultry safe from unseen pathogens that can be brought into the coop by other birds (wild or domestic); other animals, like feral cats; or humans who may carry disease-causing germs on their hands, clothing or shoes,” the BOAH press release says.
Dr. Marsh said that small flock owners should watch their poultry for signs of disease or illness, and report any unexplained death loss or illness to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Healthy Birds Hotline at 866-536-7593.
Swarner said she works with Chesterton Feed and Garden, located at 400 Locust St., to clean and sterilize bird feeders and houses each year.
Chuck Roth, owner of Chesterton Feed and Garden Center, said he is currently offering drop-off cleanings for bird feeders and houses through July 8 and they can be picked up on July 10, according to a press release