Posted on 07/05/2021 5:59:42 AM PDT by P.O.E.
HARRISBURG, PA - Wildlife health experts from the Wildlife Futures Program (WFP) at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) and officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission are investigating more than 70 general public reports of songbirds that are sick or dying due to an emerging health condition that is presently unknown.
As of July 1, 2021, reports from the public chronicle both adult and young birds exhibiting signs of the condition. The most common clinical symptoms include discharge and/or crusting around the eyes, eye lesions, and/or neurologic signs such as falling over or head tremors.
Affected birds are being tested for several toxins, parasites, bacterial diseases, and viral infections. To date, test results have been inconclusive.
Twelve species have been reported: Blue Jay, European Starling, Common Grackle, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, House Finch, House Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, and Carolina Wren.
(Excerpt) Read more at media.pa.gov ...
Hate those. Been woken up by those when I was trying to get to sleep. They also attack your pets during their breeding season.
That’s what I’m wondering. They don’t eat the same stuff at the feeders.
However, I will say this. If I lost a few Starlings and House Sparrows, I wouldn’t shed a tear.
I began keeping a list of irregularities in the natural world during the 2020 lockdown. After 30 years in the same wooded area I have a pretty good idea of what is normal and what is abnormal.
1. The overabundance of cloudless, crystal clear (and contrailess) days.
2. Fewer than normal fireflies.
3. Almost no blue-stemmed wild raspberries.
4. Katydids began to holler July 25—a week ahead of normal
5. Fall webworms exploded around July 27—ahead of normal.
6. Webworms attacking mulberry and hickory (normally only black walnut)
7. Black walnuts appear much lighter than normal.
8. Warmest July/warmest month EVER in 25 years.
9. Very few Deer Flies (not a bad thing)...appeared in August not June.
10. Very few yellow jackets (not as bad thing)
Notice that many of the items pertain to insects. Again this year, almost no deer flies (which I do not miss); but unlike last year the fireflies have made a strong showing.
I’m beginning to think that the alleged “COVID 19” was a bioweapon deployed along the I 95 corridor.
I’ve noticed a decrease in fireflies & butterflies. For a while last year I saw a lot of wildlife coming into town (perhaps due to lower human activity viz. the lockdowns?).
Anyway - this year the ants, however, are coming on strong (cue the “marching” song). Same for carpenter bees.
Avian flu may be killing some but it is not the culprit for the issue at hand. Been tested for it.
Ping
I saw an interesting article the other day on how to get rid of carpenter bees.
It said to fill a brown plastic grocery bag with more grocery bags and squeeze it around until it is ovalized. Tie the handles together and hang it from the eaves of the building where the carpenter bees are.
The bees think it is a big wasp’s nest and will leave.
I can’t vouch for the effectiveness of the trick but it is simple and not too time consuming. Might be worth a try.
I almost thought this was a thread about Trecherous John McCain. BTW, is his funeral over?
I call blue jays the “biker dudes” of birdland. Our pet cockatoo perks up whenever she sees one out the window (ladies love outlaws?)
I have seen that before when people try to use it to get rid of wasps.
I will give it a try.
I have a good luck with a trap that I bought off Etsy but the one from Lowes is useless.
My bees could care less about that one
They don’t think it’s spreading in the food. They’re not sure what’s causing it, so they’re asking folks to take down their feeders to keep birds from congregating.
When it was cooler and I had my windows open there was mockingbird that would imitate my alarm clock. No need to hit snooze.
So they took the VAX.....
Now that you mention it, earlier this year I saw a young sparrow huffing & puffing on the lawn, not moving when I got near. At the time, I figured it was a fledgling just getting her “land legs”. Now I’m beginning to wonder.
Are cicadas toxic to birds? Just askin.
No. In General. But this time it may be different. Seems the most likely reason.
But then again, we just had to deal with a man made virus so who knows what is going on.
The little house traps worked well for me... just leave the bodies in the jar. They do have a strong scent that attracts other carpenter bees. Other than that, only a hand to hand combat war of attrition seems to work.
In NVA I’ve seen one Robin with the condition. Butterfly population is definitely way down. Haven’t seen a honey bee in years. Plenty of spiders, though. I leave them alone in the garden for pest control.
I have seen exactly one cicada and heard none.
Last time around, the cicada bloom led to a temporary population boost to the animals that eat them. This time could the cicadas have accumulated toxins or an infectious vector over their dormancy?
Here is an interesting old story
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/birds-are-less-abundant-when-periodic-cicadas-emerge/
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