Fatal songbird illness reported in North Carolina. Don’t touch dead birds, state says

A mysterious illness that has been killing songbirds in mid-Atlantic states may have moved into North Carolina, according the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

The disease — which cause the eyes of birds to crust over — has been expanding its reach since being reported four months ago in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C.

“More recently additional states have been included, and our agency has begun receiving reports of sick and dying birds which may be due to the new disease,” the N.C. officials reported Tuesday in a Facebook post.

Experts believe the illness is spread by “birds congregating at feeders and baths.” Therefore, North Carolina officials are asking people to remove bird feeders “until the threat subsides.”

“We have not heard of any reports about these health issues affecting hummingbirds,” commission officials said. “So, we don’t necessarily need to recommend you take down your (hummingbird) feeders, but be sure to clean them and change the food regularly.”

There have been no reports of humans being impacted by the illness, but experts are recommending people do not handle sick or dead birds.

“If moving a bird is necessary, use gloves or an inverted plastic bag to prevent direct contact with it,” the commission says. “Keep pets (including pet birds) away from sick or dead wild birds.”

The U.S. Geological Survey began posting alerts about the illness in June, noting it was “receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs.” It was first detected in late May.

“Behavioral abnormalities” are also among the symptoms, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says.

The illness is now being reported as far north as Connecticut and as far west as Indiana, where the state received “more than 3,400 reports of sick or dead birds.”

Adding to the mystery: Some of the impacted states (Virginia and Indiana) say reports of the illness are subsiding. In Indiana, state officials announced this week people could put bird feeders back out in 76 of the state’s more than 90 counties.

Some impacted states are asking people to remove bird baths from yards until the cause is found.

Testing on dead birds is ongoing, but researchers have eliminated a number of causes, including Salmonella and Chlamydia, avian influenza virus and West Nile virus, the USGS reports.

“While the majority of affected birds are reported to be fledgling common grackles, blue jays, European starlings and American robins, other species of songbirds have been reported as well,” the USGS said.

“No definitive cause(s) of illness or death have been determined at this time. No human health or domestic livestock and poultry issues have been reported.”

This story was originally published August 10, 2021 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Fatal songbird illness reported in North Carolina. Don’t touch dead birds, state says."