DELAWARE- A mysterious stretch of bird deaths in at least six states across the U.S. and what is causing it is still a mystery.
Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC) environmental scientist Jordan Terrell says symptoms including crusty and swollen eyes, irregular flight, and stumbling.
"The last few weeks we have definitely been given a lot of information," Terrell said. "We have been having agency calls with the region. We are certainly working with diagnostic laboratories to find out what the cause of this mortality event is."
DNREC says it is seeing younger birds are affected including European starlings, blue jays, and grackles. The department has sent samples to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory but the results were inconclusive.
DNREC is asking for the public's help by removing bird feeders and baths until further notice.
Co-Owner of delmarvabirding.com Dave Wilson says problems like this have occurred over the past few decades.
"We typically see fungal diseases related to feeders which is one of the more common problems that we see," Wilson said. "Feeders get infected. Birds go to feeders and they poop in or around food and share food from feeders."
Wilson says it is crucial for people to follow DNREC's guidance and do their part to reduce bird gathering.
The belief is whatever the illness is could be spreading from bird to bird and humans could contribute to the spread of bacteria.
If you find a dead bird that may have had the symptoms, you are asked to call the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife at 302-735-3600.