But people in Allen, Carroll, Clark, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Porter, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Whitley still shouldn't feed birds, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said Monday. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana residents in Indiana's 92 counties can resume feeding birds, the Department of Natural Resources announced. The DNR had recommended a state moratorium on bird feeding earlier this summer to stop the spread of an undetermined disease that kills birds across the state.
INDIANAPOLIS residents in nine Indiana counties must continue to keep their bird feeders safely stored. According to its assessment to date, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is overriding its previous recommendation that residents of six counties (Boone, Bullitt, Campbell, Jefferson, Kenton and Madison) stop feeding birds. By removing their feeders and submitting more than 4,300 reports, residents allowed DNR staff to track the disease, detect regional differences and provide updated recommendations for feeding birds, the Indiana DNR wrote in a statement Friday announcing the lifting of feeding restrictions. Indiana residents can reposition their bird feeders if they feel comfortable doing so and don't see sick or dead birds in their yard.
Many counties in Indiana are no longer allowed to feed the birds, due to an unidentified illness that has caused the deaths of a number of songbirds. But what exactly is this mysterious disease, and what are some of the most affected areas?
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has given residents the go-ahead to feed birds again
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has given residents of three Northern Kentucky counties the go ahead to feed birds again. It has also rescinded an earlier recommendation to take a break from feeding the feathered friends.
There are actually three primary reasons to do it. These include controlling nuisance issues, improving wildlife habitats and helping to control the spread of diseases. Several other factors contribute to bird mortality.
The most important one is the amount of time it takes to prepare and clean a bird feeder. Since a bird's life is short, it's imperative to follow a strict cleaning schedule. This is not only a good idea from a hygiene standpoint, it's also an effective way to control nuisance birds.
Concentration of sick birds in urban areas might be because of a sampling bias
The latest crop of birds afflicted with the avian flu has garnered the attention of bird lovers and aficionados alike. In the words of the Indiana DNR, we're in for a treat. And as the name implies, the state is home to a plethora of migrating birds - including a few of the sickest types. As a result, the state has been able to make some important discoveries in the quest to track down the cause of this epidemic. Here are a few things we've learned thus far.
In particular, we've found that the state is a breeding ground for a few birds we're pretty sure have never visited the state before. While it may be impossible to pin point exactly where these animals are located, we're certain they are somewhere in and around Indiana.
Avian influenza
It's been a rough few months for birds in Indiana. An outbreak of avian influenza (AI) has spread throughout the state, decimating commercial poultry farms in some parts of the state and killing 200,000 birds. But the disease poses no risk to humans.
The outbreak in Indiana started with sick songbirds, but the number of affected species has continued to grow. Common grackles, blue jays, brown-headed cowbirds and redhead ducks are among the birds infected.
In the wake of the avian flu, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health has begun to test birds for the virus. So far, researchers have received negative results for the disease.
Unexplained illness killing songbirds in Indiana
A strange, mysterious disease is killing songbirds in Indiana and several other states. Researchers have found that birds with the illness show signs of neurological damage including tremors, crusty eyes, and eye discharge. The disease has spread from Kentucky to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 280 reports of sick songbirds have been submitted since May. Officials are still unsure of the cause. Some birds seem to be the most susceptible to the disease, while other species aren't affected.
Among the sick songbirds are Northern cardinals, common grackles, red-headed woodpeckers, and house finches. Symptoms include a crusty discharge around the eyes, swollen or crusty eyes, and difficulty flying.
Cleaning bird feeders
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources recently updated its recommendations on cleaning bird feeders in Indiana. Specifically, the DNR is asking residents to avoid feeding birds in June. However, they are still urging people to clean their bird baths and bird feeders, according to a press release.
While the exact cause of the disease remains unknown, it has affected several species. This includes songbirds. It has caused crusty discharge from the eyes, eye swelling, and neurological problems.
The mystery illness affected many areas of the state, and some residents reported sick birds in particular counties. For instance, reports from Allen, Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson County showed that a variety of birds were suffering from the illness.
Keeping bird baths inside
If you live in Indiana, you may have heard of a disease that has claimed hundreds of songbirds. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is still investigating the cause, but in the meantime, the state has advised residents to clean and replace bird feeders.
Keeping a bird bath is an important step to keeping wild birds happy. In fact, you'll likely notice that many of the birds that visit your backyard are more active during the warmer months.
The best place to keep a birdbath is in a shady spot. This helps to keep the water cool and reduces algae growth.
You'll also want to ensure that the bath is level. This will make it easier for the birds to access the water.
Eighty-one counties in Indiana are now free to feed birds, but the DNR recommended that all bird feeders be cleaned at least once a week with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly. DNR said Monday that residents in 76 counties could resume feeding birds, although residents were asked to keep feeders low while researchers continue to investigate what is killing songbirds. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources recommends that people from nine counties Allen, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Porter and St. This week's new guidance means that people in Indiana's other 83 counties can use their bird feeders.
The DNR has withdrawn its recommendation that Indiana residents refrain from feeding birds in all counties. Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion and Morgan Counties in the Indianapolis metropolitan area remained under the restriction until Friday, as did Carroll, Monroe and Tippecanoe Counties in central Indiana. Despite lifting restrictions, the Indiana DNR continues to encourage people to clean seed and tallow feeders at least once every two weeks, scrub them with soap and water, and then briefly immerse them in a 10% bleach solution. The DNR believes that the disease constantly affects specific areas, so it is lifting its moratorium on poultry feeding in most Indiana counties.
INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) In many Indiana counties, Indiana residents can return to feeding birds after the DNR imposed a state moratorium on bird feeding more than two weeks ago to stop the spread of mysterious bird deaths. Wildlife and natural resources agencies in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, along with federal agencies, continue to work with diagnostic laboratories to investigate the cause of the unexplained disease.
