Fwd: Songbird Disease Update

[Annette Pasek]

Dear HAS Members, 

In response to Sarah Faulkner's email on Tom Robben's songbird disease update, Jay Kaplan has asked that the following reply be shared.  

"Hi Birders!

 

Sadly, the article does little to advance theories on the cause of the bird deaths.  The reason  for that is in spite of extensive testing, etc., to date there is no answer.  New research seems to indicate that deaths are slowing in the mid-Atlantic states where the epizootic (for lack of a better word) first manifested itself.   Connecticut has not definitely identified birds that have succumbed to this ailment, although there have been three birds tested that exhibit the symptoms.  The idea that hundreds of birds have died is simply not factual.  Birds, especially fledglings, die for a wide variety of reasons.  Now, all this being said, it is recommended that people err on the side of caution and remove bird feeders and bird baths.  There is, as has been written, plenty of natural food available for birds at this time of the year.  They will survive nicely without feeders, although this certainly denies birders of the pleasure they get from seeing birds at their feeders.  The idea is that by keeping birds from congregating, it might slow the spread of whatever has been killing them should it be contagious.  Hopefully, continued research will soon provide some answers.

 

It is not necessary to test every dead bird one finds.  However, should you find birds that exhibit the symptoms described in the article, you should follow the protocols as recommended by the CT DEEP.

 

Jay Kaplan"

Keep in mind that the general membership does not have user rights to use ALL...@audubon.org, this address is inclusive of all members and one must use the elective HASBi...@audubon.org address for reaching those who have opted in to receive emails from the general membership community.

Annette Pasek

HAS President

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sarah Faulkner <sffau...@hartfordaudubon.org>
Date: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 at 9:15 AM
Subject: Songbird Disease Update
To: <All...@hartfordaudubon.org>

I'm forwarding an email from Tom Robben with a brand-new article about the progress UConn is making on figuring out why the songbirds are dying.   Please feel free to share.  The article tells how to report sick or dead birds -- and please do report them.  

 

Unfortunately we still need to keep the feeders down.  (In my case, they're down anyway for those large black furry birds... waiting until November!).  

Thank you,

 

Sarah Faulkner

Collinsville, CT 

From:  Thomas Robben  <robb...@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 8, 2021 at 4:06 AM
Subject: Fwd: [CT Birds] mystery bird illness

This is a hugely important topic, and also a great example of an area where all of the BIRDING COMMUNITY in CT and nearby can cooperate. This statewide cooperation includes every birder,  COA, CAS,  NAS, HAS, NHBC, all other CT birding organizations, rehabilitators, DEEP, CVMDL, UConn, the professional ornithological community, etc. 

If you have time, click on the link below and note the paragraph on citizen science,  which I reproduced here, to quickly show some things we can be prepared to do:

 

https://today.uconn.edu/2021/08/uconn-lab-helps-track-and-manage-new-songbird-sickness/

 

+++++++++++++++++++

Citizen Science: How Connecticut Residents Can Help

 

Citizens can take several steps if they find a bird with a crusty eye and discharge or one that is easy to catch. First, DEEP wants you to catch the bird and put it in a cardboard box and  contact a wildlife rehabilitator. The birds receive treatment and further testing is done on biological samples to help understand the disease. Rehabilitated birds are released back into the wild. Any deceased birds should be  reported online. If the sample is still relatively fresh, keep it cool, and report it to DEEP so that DEEP can arrange with the CVMDL to have tests run.

 

+++++++++++++++++++

Thanks,

Tom Robben

Glastonbury CT

 

 

On 08/08/2021 8:27 AM SARAH FAULKNER <sffau...@comcast.net> wrote:

 

 

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