[Durham INC] Fwd: Bird Feeding Stop Alert/Help birds: Serious new songbird epidemic, US Geological Survey asks for moratorium on feeders/bird baths

Wed Jul 28 12:17:32 EDT 2021

Still going on -- See updates in red below from the exec director of CLAWS,
along with the 3 bulleted links inc. a link to lots of good info on the
CLAWS FB pages about other wildlife as well.

A mysterious illness affecting wild birds has been reported in the Triangle
area and other states. CLAWS and Audubon NC recommend taking down bird seed
feeders and suet feeders for at least 2 weeks *(as of July 23)* and
cleaning them with a 10% bleach solution, as well as birdbaths. Insects,
berries, and other natural food sources birds depend on this time of year
are abundant -- your neighborhood birds will find plenty to eat without
bird feeders. Also, says CLAWS Executive Director Kindra Mammone, “We
always say ‘at least two weeks,’ meaning we’ll reassess then. Also take
feeders down and empty bird baths when the ground stays wet, and when it
rains daily or nightly for over 2 days."

   - See more advice here on CLAWS FB page:
   https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/
   - “Keeping bird feeders and bird baths clean is the key to preventing
   diseases among wild birds”:
   https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/photos/a.10155790104444920/10155790106424920
   <https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/photos/a.10155790104444920/10155790106424920>
   - *CLAWS Wildlife Flyers: **Please share!* Expert advice on many kinds
   of wildlife: from finding injured, protecting, when not to intervene,
   understanding their needs, cleaning bird feeders & birdbaths, feeding/not
   feeding, seeing during the day, and much more. See their FB page:
   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ClawsNC&set=a.10155790104444920
   <https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ClawsNC&set=a.10155790104444920>

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Wendy B <wendybernhardt at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 1, 2021, 1:53 PM
Subject: Fwd: [TPD-NC] Bird Feeding Stop Alert/Help birds: Serious new
songbird epidemic, US Geological Survey asks for moratorium on feeders/bird
baths
To: Trinity Park Listserv <trinityparkdurhamnc at groups.io>, Old West <
owdna at googlegroups.com>, Old North Durham <main at ondna.groups.io>,
stadium-heights <stadium-heights at googlegroups.com>, <
walltown-neighbors at googlegroups.com>, <inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net>,
Colonial Village Durham <colonial-village-durham at googlegroups.com>, <
dukepark at groups.io>
Cc:

I contacted CLAWS and received feedback from the executive director below (see
indented email exchange starting from the bottom up), which is different
from the N.C. Wildlife rep's response (below that). The FB link Kindra is
referring to is here:
https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/posts/10159232861234920.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kindra <mrsclaws at nc-claws.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 1, 2021 at 10:30 AM
Subject: RE: [Anderson / Wrightwood Neighbors] new disease killing birds,
take feeders down?
To: Wendy B <wendybernhardt at gmail.com>

I posted it to our facebook page, you are more than welcome to send either
> out
>
I just ask that people stop attacking me.  I’m not enforcement, I can’t
> make anybody remove their feeders, all I can do is suggest based on what we
> are seeing daily
>

>
Thank you,
>

>
*Kindra D. Mammone*
>

>
Executive Director
>
CLAWS, Inc.
>
www.nc-claws.org
>
https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/
>

>
*"Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll
> understand."*
>

>
*From:* Wendy B <wendybernhardt at gmail.com>
>
*Sent:* Thursday, July 1, 2021 10:14 AM
>
*To:* Kindra <mrsclaws at nc-claws.org>
>
*Subject:* Re: [Anderson / Wrightwood Neighbors] new disease killing birds,
> take feeders down?
>

>
Thank you for your quick response, Kindra! Would it be okay to send this
> out to the thousands of people that are on listservs I belong to and
> elsewhere, e.g., Nextdoor?
>

>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Kindra <mrsclaws at nc-claws.org>
> Date: Thu, Jul 1, 2021 at 10:08 AM
> Subject: RE: [Anderson / Wrightwood Neighbors] new disease killing birds,
> take feeders down?
> To: Wendy B <wendybernhardt at gmail.com>
>
Hello Wendy and thank you for writing.
>
> I’d like to go back to the last bird disease that went around in our area
> (the one people were convinced was salmonella but was never positively
> identified as such).  CLAWS initially put out a warning to take down
> feeders in January, the state and CDC and other government officials did
> not come out with an official stance until early March.
>
> Rehabbers tend to see these issues long before the state does.  I know I
> talked to the state just a week prior to their last news release to please
> stop feeding and was told much the same as you were in this email.  Because
> they hadn’t yet gotten enough reports whereas by that time, we’d received
> hundreds of pictures of dead birds, all with the same symptoms.
>
> Having said that, we also get finch eye disease in our area when we get a
> lot of rain and always suggest cleaning and removing bird feeders for at
> least a week so as not to spread the disease.
>
> We are currently seeing an uprising in birds with “infected” eyes and
> neurological symptoms, the same as in other states, so we are trying to
> warn people.
>
> Sadly, many need to wait to have the state confirm what we are already
> seeing and many more birds could suffer and die for this reason.
>
> I’m not saying we are the be all end all of decisions.  Many never took
> their feeders down the last time and somehow the disease seemed to go away
> (though I’m not sure this isn’t just the second wave of the same disease).
> What people choose to do is up to them.
>
> As rehabbers who are seeing this, it is our responsibility to the animals
> to try to help and warn people.
>
> Removing feeders won’t harm birds, leaving them up with a deadly disease
> potentially in the area could harm them.  The choice is up to you.
>
> Thank you,
>
> *Kindra D. Mammone*
>
> Executive Director
>
> CLAWS, Inc.
>
> www.nc-claws.org
>
> https://www.facebook.com/ClawsNC/
>
> *"Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll
> understand."*
>
>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
 From: Susan
Date: Thu, Jul 1, 2021 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: [npna] Bird Feeding Stop Alert/Help birds: Serious new
songbird epidemic, US Geological Survey asks for moratorium on feeders/bird
baths
To: <npna at groups.io>

The neighbor of a friend contacted the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to
ask about this.  Here’s what they said.

*Thank you for your email and for your concern about our native bird
populations. I have seen this source (and others) concerning the mystery
illness you mention. As of yet, we have not found any cases of this illness
in our state. I suspect that when we do, we will surely put out another
media alert as we did when the salmonella outbreak occurred earlier this
year. At this time, we have not issued any guidance on measures to protect
our native birds. Please remain vigilant to any sick or dead birds showing
these signs/symptoms and for any media releases we may have in the future
on the topic. Thank you again for your concern of our natural wildlife.*

*Sean Stanton,*

*Human-Wildlife Interactions Biologist*
*NC Wildlife Resources Commission*

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: chander2 <chander2nyc at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 30, 2021 at 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: [TPD-NC] Bird Feeding Stop Alert/Help birds: Serious new
songbird epidemic, US Geological Survey asks for moratorium on feeders/bird
baths
To: Debra A Hawkins <dhawkins913311 at gmail.com>
Cc: <DukePark at groups.io>, Trinity Park Listserv <
trinityparkdurhamnc at groups.io>, Old West <owdna at googlegroups.com>, Old
North Durham <main at ondna.groups.io>, stadium-heights <
stadium-heights at googlegroups.com>, <walltown-neighbors at googlegroups.com>, <
inc-list at lists.deltaforce.net>, Colonial Village Durham <
colonial-village-durham at googlegroups.com>

A. This is an alert that may or may not be completely up to date. (In
reviewing the material linked below I saw date going back to May in some on
of the info).

B. Perhaps more importantly, there is no unified call to stop feeding birds
that has been communicated through multiple sources (like Audobon society,
the EPA, and others). What is being said is, IF you choose to have bird
feeders, clean them regularly. Which -spoiler alert - you should be doing
anyway. If you wouldn't eat off of dirty dishes, or put pet food in bowl
that's only cleaned once every few months, why would you treat a bird
feeder any differently?

Please don't simply pass along fear mongering summations that arent
accurate.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Debra Hawkins <dhawkins913311 at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 6:24 PM
Subject: [WHHNA-list] Bird Feeding Stop Alert/Help birds: Serious new
songbird epidemic, US Geological Survey asks for moratorium on feeders/bird
baths
To: WHHNA-List List <whhna-list at whhna.org>

Dear neighbors, a new unknown/poorly understood disease is ravaging bird
> populations on the Eastern Seaboard, and spreading to many states and
> inland. USGS has put out a call for backyard birders to take down feeders
> and birdbaths to help stop/slow transmission until more is understood or
> solutions/help is possible. Rehab places are being overwhelmed with
> sick/dying songbirds and cannot save them all. Please read the below
> information/check out other articles and consider taking your birding aids
> offline till the professionals/scientists let us know what or when to
> resume. Sadly, we need to help our avian population socially distance too
> -- before flocking season starts in the fall. Many thanks to our local
> wildlife certified rehabbers and CLAWS INC. for the heads up. As always,
> please feel free to share and distribute as you wish, and please forgive
> any duplicate postings not seen/simply disregard if not relevant or
> interested. Thank you.
>
>
>
> “Birds of the mid-Atlantic are disappearing at an alarming rate, says the
> U.S. Geological Survey
> <https://www.usgs.gov/news/interagency-statement-usgs-and-partners-investigating-dc-area-bird-mortality-event?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=facebook&utm_term=0a3f1fb9-caf4-46cb-a52f-e23845585a6c&utm_content=u.s.+geological+survey+%28usgs%29&utm_campaign=biosurveillance-fy21>,
> which is urging residents to refrain from feeding the animals until more is
> known about a mysterious disease that causes eye swelling, neurological
> damage and, ultimately, death.
>
> In a recent joint statement by the USGS on behalf of a number of state
> agencies throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and DC, they warned
> that birds that congregate in feeders and baths are likely to transmit the
> illness, which has not yet been identified by wildlife experts. They ask
> residents to disinfect and remove such ornaments from their homes until the
> “mortality event” has ended and more is known about how the disease can be
> treated or prevented.”
>
>
> https://nypost.com/2021/06/22/mysterious-disease-is-killing-hundreds-of-birds-in-dc-area/?fbclid=IwAR0S7Ru5w5KkvpZe6nuOOPRwtREGfEshKf8nIikThEIq3Td5kfrsGglOy98
>
>
>
> D in NGP
>
_._,_._,_
------------------------------
Groups.io Links:

You receive all messages sent to this group.
You automatically follow any topics you start or reply to.

View/Reply Online (#4906)
<https://groups.io/g/trinityparkdurhamnc/message/4906> | Reply To Sender
<chander2nyc at gmail.com?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BTPD-NC%5D%20Bird%20Feeding%20Stop%20Alert%2FHelp%20birds%3A%20Serious%20new%20songbird%20epidemic%2C%20US%20Geological%20Survey%20asks%20for%20moratorium%20on%20feeders%2Fbird%20baths>
| Reply To Group
<trinityparkdurhamnc at groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BTPD-NC%5D%20Bird%20Feeding%20Stop%20Alert%2FHelp%20birds%3A%20Serious%20new%20songbird%20epidemic%2C%20US%20Geological%20Survey%20asks%20for%20moratorium%20on%20feeders%2Fbird%20baths>
| Mute This Topic <https://groups.io/mt/83879904/1646579> | New Topic
<https://groups.io/g/trinityparkdurhamnc/post>
------------------------------
You are receiving this message because you have subscribed to it. If you
wish to be taken off this listserv, you must unsubscribe by sending an
email to trinityparkdurhamnc+unsubscribe at groups.io
------------------------------
Your Subscription <https://groups.io/g/trinityparkdurhamnc/editsub/1646579>
| Contact Group Owner <trinityparkdurhamnc+owner at groups.io> | Unsubscribe
<https://groups.io/g/trinityparkdurhamnc/unsub> [wendybernhardt at gmail.com]
_._,_._,_
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.deltaforce.net/pipermail/inc-list/attachments/20210728/d3aaf87c/attachment.htm>