{"id":16117,"date":"2021-07-29T17:07:30","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T21:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=16117"},"modified":"2021-08-12T15:16:21","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T19:16:21","slug":"mid-atlantic-bird-disease-outbreak-no-change-to-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mid-atlantic-bird-disease-outbreak-no-change-to-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"Mid-Atlantic Bird Disease Outbreak: No Change to Recommendations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bird feeders are still empty and indoors at Mass Audubon sanctuaries (as they mostly are statewide). We miss seeing our visiting chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and woodpeckers at our nature centers and offices!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keeping feeders down is still the right decision in light of the disease outbreak<\/a> in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. So far, the disease has not spread into New England, and there\u2019s no immediate cause for concern at this point\u2014only caution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blue
Blue Jay \u00a9 Richard Morreale<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hold tight! <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is possible that nothing will change for the next couple of weeks, and perhaps even the rest of the summer. It\u2019s worth checking back on this blog or on the MassWildlife<\/a> website later in August for any future updates.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both MassWildlife and their state agency counterparts in Connecticut and Rhode Island continue to ask that people pause feeding birds statewide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, late spring and summer are the seasons when insects, water, wild seeds, and fruits are abundant. These natural foods have sustained birds in the warm season since long before we began feeding them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Unknowns than Knowns <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, and identifying the cause of any new avian disease is a process of elimination. So far, wildlife health experts have confirmed that the disease is not due to West Nile virus, avian flu, conjunctivitis, or agricultural pesticides or herbicides. A hypothetical link to the Brood X cicada emergence in the Mid-Atlantic has also been ruled out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also don\u2019t really know if this disease can be passed from bird to bird yet. Some of the affected birds show signs of eye infections\u2014which suggest, but do not confirm, that it\u2019s transmissible.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This disease spread rapidly in its early stages, though the numbers appear to be stabilizing in some states. We do know that birdfeeders and birdbaths have in the past facilitated other outbreaks of disease, like salmonella<\/a> and conjunctivitis<\/a>, because they provide shared surfaces where birds congregate densely and frequently.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By temporarily removing your feeders and bird baths, you are reducing the chances that this disease will spread into Massachusetts. Thank you. We can\u2019t wait to get back to feeding birds as soon as it\u2019s prudent, and we\u2019ll be sure to let you know when that is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bird feeders are still empty and indoors at Mass Audubon sanctuaries (as they mostly are statewide). We miss seeing our visiting chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays, and woodpeckers at our nature centers and offices!   Keeping feeders down is still the right decision in light of the disease outbreak in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. So far, the disease has not spread […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":16123,"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":[420,419],"class_list":["post-16117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birds-birding","tag-avian-disease","tag-massachusetts-bird-disease"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/6655Richard_Morreale34368-750x500-f1b53c57-14b1-4c96-bdc0-5f155a41906f.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-4bX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16037,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-13-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16117,"position":0},"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 "General"","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":16055,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/july-14-update-on-the-unknown-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16117,"position":1},"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":15113,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/why-cleaning-bird-feeders-matters\/","url_meta":{"origin":16117,"position":2},"title":"Why Cleaning Bird Feeders Matters","author":"Hillary T.","date":"January 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Enjoying watching birds visit your feeder? Great! Make sure the birds that visit stay healthy by keeping your feeder clean. Black-capped Chickadee at a Feeder Why a Clean Feeder is a Happy Feeder High concentrations of birds in close proximity to one another can contribute to the spread of disease\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Black-capped Chickadee at a Feeder","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.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\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/01\/KForesto-0158-2-750.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":16117,"position":3},"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 "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":16289,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-return-of-the-feeder-frenzy\/","url_meta":{"origin":16117,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Return of the Feeder Frenzy","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We are so excited to finally be able to put bird feeders back out, now that the threat of the mysterious avian disease seems to have subsided. Thank you to everyone who heeded the call\u2014taking down feeders was an important precaution during a time of uncertainty and we are grateful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder \u00a9 Anindya Sen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.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\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/5978Anindya_Sen30167-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16020,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/monitoring-the-mysterious-bird-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":16117,"position":5},"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. We\u2019re in touch with local wildlife officials and health experts. To our knowledge, the disease has not yet been observed in Massachusetts but we will continue to monitor the\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\/KForesto-0174-750.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\/KForesto-0174-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/KForesto-0174-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/07\/KForesto-0174-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16117","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=16117"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16167,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16117\/revisions\/16167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}