Area parks remove bird feeders, ask residents to do same amid mystery illness

As state officials continue to investigate an unknown illness affecting songbirds, the Five Rivers MetroParks announced it is taking down bird feeders in its parks and asked for area residents to take down their own feeders for the next few weeks.

In addition, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife advised people to wash feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution, especially if they see sick or dead birds in their area.

The primary species affected by the illness are blue jays, common grackles, European starlings, American robins and house sparrows, it said.

In our area, the ODNR Division of Wildlife said the bulk of the outbreak has affected Butler, Clark, Greene, Montgomery and Warren counties.

The MetroParks said birds affected by the illness exhibited symptoms like puffy and infected eyes, as well as feather loss and the inability to fly.

The Division of Wildlife asked for Ohioans to report dead or diseased birds online with its Wildlife Species Sighting reporting system to help biologists track the disease. It also said that if you find a living diseased bird, you can contact an area licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

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