{"id":16037,"date":"2021-07-13T14:09:29","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T18:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=16037"},"modified":"2021-07-15T09:49:20","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T13:49:20","slug":"july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"July 13 Update on the Unknown Bird Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Please see July 14 update for latest recommendations. <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An as-of-yet unidentified disease has been affecting birds across the mid-Atlantic US, leading to neurological symptoms and eye infections in several backyard species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disease has been observed most in fledglings of Common Grackles, Blue Jays, American Robins, and European Starlings. In areas where the disease has already spread, scientists are advising the public to take down birdfeeders and birdbaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The disease has not been reported in Massachusetts as of July 13, and there is no evidence that the disease poses a threat to people or to any bird species at the population level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the geographic extent of the disease so far, we are not advising the removal of feeders in Massachusetts, although this is subject change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay Vigilant: Keep Feeders Clean<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Blue Jay at bird feeder \u00a9 Lori Lawson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bird feeders can contribute to the spread of disease among birds by encouraging them to congregate, feed, and perch on the same surfaces during an outbreak. One recent example was the accelerated spread of Salmonella<\/a> among birds during an outbreak this winter in the Pacific Northwest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking feeders and birdbaths down can slow the spread of a fast-moving pathogen within a population where it\u2019s already established, but doing so may not prevent the arrival of the pathogen into a new area altogether. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s always a good idea to keep birdfeeders and birdbaths clean, though, and to avoid handling dead or diseased animals\u2014 regardless of whether or not there\u2019s an avian disease outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend cleaning feeders<\/a> every two weeks (or more often with heavy use) with a 1:10 bleach-and-water solution. Always wash your hands carefully after cleaning or touching a birdfeeder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you observe birds with symptoms of the mid-Atlantic disease outbreak\u2014 a crust around the eyes, muscle spasms, or paralysis, contact us<\/a> or call MassWildlife<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Please see July 14 update for latest recommendations. An as-of-yet unidentified disease has been affecting birds across the mid-Atlantic US, leading to neurological symptoms and eye infections in several backyard species. The disease has been observed most in fledglings of Common Grackles, Blue Jays, American Robins, and European Starlings. In areas where the disease has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":16040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-4aF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16055,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-14-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16037,"position":0},"title":"Update on the Unknown Bird Disease","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Updated 7\/20\/21 Mass Audubon is in conversations with MassWildlife and other colleagues about the risk posed to Massachusetts birds by the ongoing avian disease outbreak in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US. While the disease has not been confirmed in any areas north of New Jersey, out of an abundance of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16117,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mid-atlantic-bird-disease-outbreak-no-change-to-recommendations\/","url_meta":{"origin":16037,"position":1},"title":"Mid-Atlantic Bird Disease Outbreak: No Change to Recommendations","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Bird feeders are still empty and indoors at Mass Audubon sanctuaries\u00a0(as they mostly are statewide). We miss\u00a0seeing our visiting chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and woodpeckers at our nature centers and offices!\u00a0\u00a0 Keeping feeders down is still the right decision in light of the\u00a0disease outbreak\u00a0in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. So far,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16020,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/monitoring-the-mysterious-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16037,"position":2},"title":"Monitoring the Mysterious Bird Disease","author":"Hillary T.","date":"July 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"American Goldfinches We have received quite a few questions about the mysterious disease impacting birds in some states to our south. 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Silvestri Remember to Clean\u00a0Those Feeders\u00a0 The\u00a0cause\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/2303PaulFSilvestri8060-750x502-66b167a4-a951-42e6-affc-495ab426964a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/2303PaulFSilvestri8060-750x502-66b167a4-a951-42e6-affc-495ab426964a.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/2303PaulFSilvestri8060-750x502-66b167a4-a951-42e6-affc-495ab426964a.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/2303PaulFSilvestri8060-750x502-66b167a4-a951-42e6-affc-495ab426964a.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15113,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/why-cleaning-bird-feeders-matters\/","url_meta":{"origin":16037,"position":4},"title":"Why Cleaning Bird Feeders Matters","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Enjoying watching birds visit your feeder? 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