{"id":16055,"date":"2021-07-14T17:04:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-14T21:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=16055"},"modified":"2021-07-29T11:18:43","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T15:18:43","slug":"july-14-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-14-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on the Unknown Bird Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Updated 7\/20\/21<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mass Audubon is in conversations with MassWildlife and other colleagues about the risk posed to Massachusetts birds by the ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/07\/02\/1012541984\/a-mystery-illness-is-killing-mid-atlantic-songbirds\">avian disease outbreak <\/a>in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the disease has not been confirmed in any areas north of New Jersey, out of an abundance of caution <em>Mass Audubon and MassWildlife have decided to recommend taking down bird feeders and birdbaths until the current outbreak is over.<\/em> Birds can find plenty of natural food and don\u2019t depend on bird feeders, especially during the warm season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg\" alt=\"blue jay at feeder\" class=\"wp-image-16040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4.jpg 750w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/4359Lori_Lawson18976-750x500-acaf575b-5cc6-4607-aa7f-27a9ad10a0a4-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption>\u00a9 Lori Lawson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s what to do now:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Cease feeding birds (including hummingbirds) until this wildlife morbidity\/mortality event subsides.<\/li><li>Clean feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution (one part bleach mixed with nine parts water), rinse with water, and allow to air-dry.<\/li><li>Avoid handling birds unless necessary. If you do handle them, wear disposable gloves and wash hands afterwards.<\/li><li>If picking up a dead bird, place an inverted plastic bag over your hand to avoid direct contact with the bird. To dispose of dead birds, place them in a plastic bag, seal, and discard with household trash or alternatively bury them deeply.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Keep pets (including pet birds) away from sick or dead wild birds as a standard precaution.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Bird mortality is always a little higher during the summer, as a good number of fledglings sadly don\u2019t make it past their first few months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please email reports to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/forms\/report-observations-of-dead-birds\">Mass Wildlife via this form<\/a> and include your location, number and species of birds, symptoms observed, and any photos. We will continue to monitor the situation, so stay tuned for more information as wildlife biologists monitor the current outbreak.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 caution Mass Audubon and MassWildlife [&hellip;]<\/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":[386],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birds-birding"],"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-4aX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16117,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mid-atlantic-bird-disease-outbreak-no-change-to-recommendations\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":0},"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 &quot;Birds &amp; Birding&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds &amp; 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":16037,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":1},"title":"July 13 Update on the Unknown Bird Disease","author":"William Freedberg","date":"July 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"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":16253,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/safe-to-start-feeding-birds-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":2},"title":"Safe to Start Feeding Birds Again!\u00a0","author":"William Freedberg","date":"August 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Wonderful news! Based on declining reports of the mysterious avian disease in states to our south and the absence of confirmed cases in Massachusetts, we are following the lead of our neighbors and recommending it is safe to resume feeding birds. \u00a9 Paul F. Silvestri Remember to Clean\u00a0Those Feeders\u00a0 The\u00a0cause\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds &amp; Birding&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds &amp; 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":5968,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-feed-the-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Feed the Birds","author":"Rosemary","date":"August 10, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It's time for the Audubon Shop's Bird Feeder Sale! Throughout the month of August, Mass Audubon members can save 20 percent off all bird feeders, poles, and baffles. Visit the Audubon Shop in Lincoln to find the right bird feeder for your window or outdoor space, and get in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Take 5&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/08\/Nadine-Ronan-FOF-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/08\/Nadine-Ronan-FOF-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/08\/Nadine-Ronan-FOF-2012.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14270,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/the-triumphant-return-of-bald-eagles\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":4},"title":"The Triumphant Return of Bald Eagles","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"June 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) recently confirmed that there are now more than 70 active Bald Eagle nests in the Bay State, including the first nesting effort on Cape Cod since 1905.\u00a0 The Bald Eagle spotted nesting on the Cape \u00a9 Heather Fone This nest, located in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nature Notes&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/06\/1607David_Ennis18233-750-e1592405157267.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8058,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/august-feeder-sale-get-20-off-feeders-poles-and-baffles\/","url_meta":{"origin":16055,"position":5},"title":"August Feeder Sale: Get 20% Off Feeders, Poles, and Baffles","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Annual Bird Feeder Sale is here! Through the end of August, Mass Audubon members get a double discount on bird feeders, poles, and baffles, so shop our great selection of bird feeders and supplies online\u00a0and spruce up your bird feeding setup. Call or stop by the\u00a0brick and\u00a0mortar Audubon Shop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Stuff We Love&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Stuff We Love","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/stuff-we-love\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Classic Pole Feeder","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/08\/large-classic-pole-feeder-191x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16055"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16128,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16055\/revisions\/16128"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}