HYANNIS – An expert from MassWildlife recently elaborated on the mysterious illness impacting birds across the nation.
Marion Larson, Chief of Information and Education for Mass Wildlife, advises residents to report any dead birds that were not obviously killed in another way as the problem continues to be monitored by officials.
The sickness effects many species of bird, and many who have died from it are of the younger fledgling age group.
Bird feeders and bird baths could be more harmful than helpful to birds under these circumstances, as the opportunity for them to gather also allows the disease to spread.
Larson assured concerned residents that the birds would be fine without the feeders.
“There’s plenty of natural food out there,” she said, “and the birds that we have that are living here in New England, and the ones that are migrating through, they’ve been around for thousands of years, long before any of us thought about feeding birds.”
Signs of the unknown disease started around the area of Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia in May, and have steadily been spreading.
Any dead birds found should not be touched by residents or pets, as it is not yet known whether or not people and other animals can suffer adverse health effects from exposure.
Tune into Sunday Journal this weekend for the full story.
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