DNR updates on Songbird Deaths; four reported birds in Shelby County

Allisyn Gillet from the DNR said this disease started in early June.

“We’ve been hearing here and there about birds exhibiting symptoms in which their eyes were crusty, swollen or had discharged, or displaying neurological symptoms,” she said.

The symptoms were mainly observed in common grackles, bluejays, cardinals, European starlings, American robins, house finches, and brown headed cowbirds – all songbirds.

“They primarily affected songbirds,” Gillet said. “When we do get a report of a bird that is not a songbird, it ends up being totally different.”

The DNR is still looking at all the different potential causes of this, like viruses, bacteria, chemicals, vitamin deficiencies, and fungi, Gillet said.

Until a cause can be determined, the DNR is advising people to take down their bird feeders and other bird-related items.

“It’s not just bird feeders, but bird baths and any kind of mass feeding to prevent congregation,” she said. “We’re trying to allow them to socially distance as well, like we’ve had to do.

“I think it’s really important people understand why we’re advising people take down their feeders and why it’s not just seed feeders but also hummingbird feeders and bird baths and broadcasting seed,” she continued. “It’s to prevent the birds from congregating and allowing them to feed on other sources.”

Gillet said not to worry – birds will find other sources of food.

“People have been really worried about taking down their feeders because they’re afraid birds don’t have enough to eat,” she said. “Birds will shift to a wide variety of foods, so they’ll eat insects and fruits and nuts instead of just one feed. Those things are abundant in the summer.”

Asking for public help

The DNR has received 160 reports of “actually legitimate” cases, but they’ve received more than 1,200 reports of dead or sick birds that have nothing to do with the songbird disease.

“There are diseases that affect songbirds; for example, we have a disease that is somewhat similar to the type of symptoms called house finch eye disease, which is primarily seen in the finch species,” Gillet said.

There have been no reports of the new disease in animals that are not birds, such as squirrels or chipmunks, which often use bird feeders as well.

DNR staff have collected samples and submitted them to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Final laboratory diagnostic results are pending – the cause or transmission is currently unknown and still under investigation.

“We know what it’s not, but we haven’t gotten to a point where we can determine what it’s related to or what it’s being caused,” Gillet said. “We know specifically it is not West Nile Virus and Avian Influenza.”

The DNR is tracking the illness by asking the public to report birds with the symptoms. One can report a bird by going to on.in.gov/songbirddeaths. Gillet said the public has been a great help in reporting the illness.

“We’re relying on the public to report those birds with the symptoms that we are looking for,” Gillet said. “That’s helped us better understand the situation within the state and better advise as a result. In the beginning we advised only certain areas or certain counties take down their feeders, but through reporting we realized a statewide recommendation is more accurate to prevent further spreading. Through our reports, we realized the outbreak is much larger than we expected.”

Ohio and Kentucky are also reporting birds with these symptoms, as well as states further east.

Keep your feeders down until the DNR says otherwise, Gillet said. She’s unsure when they will be able to say otherwise.

“It takes time for us to get test results and explore the possibility of the cause, but we will share that information once we get there and have results for people.”