STATEWIDE — Songbirds are dying in Indiana and the Department of Natural Resources wants to know why.
Indiana DNR is working with the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center to determine how and why the birds died.
The birds have been found in five counties: Clark, Jefferson, LaGrange, Lake, and Monroe.
The affected songbirds showed neurological signs of illness as well as eye swelling and crusty discharge, according to Indiana DNR.
“Several species are being affected,” said Allisyn-Marie Gillet, DNR ornithologist, “including blue jay, American robin, common grackle, Northern cardinal, European starling, and a few others.”
Several samples have been sent to IN ADDL. Gillet said that all bird samples submitted have tested negative for avian influenza and West Nile virus. Final lab results are pending.
