[1] Attention Montgomery County residents! We have important news about your bird feeders! We’re calling on you to help the @ohiodnr spread the word about preventative measures to help prevent illness in our feathered friends.
— MetroParks (@MetroParksTweet) June 30, 2021
[2] ...In May, officials began receiving reports of songbirds in Ohio – and other states – being impacted by an unknown illness. Affected birds show symptoms including puffy, swollen eyes, feather loss, inability to fly, blindness and death.
— MetroParks (@MetroParksTweet) June 30, 2021
[3] Because of this, our naturalists have taken down bird feeders in our parks. The public should also take down bird feeders in their own yards for at least the next few weeks.
— MetroParks (@MetroParksTweet) June 30, 2021
In addition, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife advised people to wash feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution, especially if they see sick or dead birds in their area.
The primary species affected by the illness are blue jays, common grackles, European starlings, American robins and house sparrows, it said.
In our area, the ODNR Division of Wildlife said the bulk of the outbreak has affected Butler, Clark, Greene, Montgomery and Warren counties.
The MetroParks said birds affected by the illness exhibited symptoms like puffy and infected eyes, as well as feather loss and the inability to fly.
The Division of Wildlife asked for Ohioans to report dead or diseased birds online with its Wildlife Species Sighting reporting system to help biologists track the disease. It also said that if you find a living diseased bird, you can contact an area licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
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