Earlier this summer, several bird species in Washington D.C. were discovered to be ill and dying from an unknown cause. Shortly thereafter, birds in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, and other states began dying, showing similar symptoms: crusty and swollen eyes, lethargic behavior, and signs of neurological distress.

State and Federal authorities are working fast to identify the cause which remains largely unknown. Affected bird species include blue jays, house sparrows, American robins, and others.

Out of precaution, wildlife officials are asking people to stop feeding birds and to sanitize their feeders and birdbaths to avoid possibly spreading this unknown disease. Regular cleaning is important to bird health.

To sanitize, use a 10% bleach solution to disinfect and clean feeders including baths where birds congregate. Rinse thoroughly.

Wildlife Forever is very concerned and monitoring the situation as information is released. We are asking Wildlife Forever members and the public to help monitor bird behavior and report deaths to your local wildlife agency or the US Geological Survey. Click here to report bird illness and death.

To learn more if birds are threatened in your state, click below:

Smithsonian Magazine:

Ohio DNR:

Pennsylvania Game and Fish Agency:

Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency:

Maryland DNR:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

To donate in support songbird conservation, visit: www.SongbirdArtContest.org

Wildlife Forever’s mission is to conserve America’s outdoor heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat, and management of fish and wildlife. Wildlife Forever is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to investing resources on the ground. Recent audits reveal that 96% of every dollar supports our award-winning conservation programs. Please, Join Today and learn more about The Art of Conservation® programs, Clean Drain Dry Initiative™, and Prairie City USA® at  www.WildlifeForever.org.

The Art of Conservation® Songbird Art Contest™ is an art and writing competition created in partnership with the Jay N. Darling Legacy Center focused on conservation education and species diversity of North American songbirds. To enter, artists create an original illustration from the official contest bird list and a written essay about lessons learned and efforts to conserve their chosen species. Entries are judged in four age levels: K-3^rd, 4^th-6^th grades, 7^th-9^th grades, and 10^th-12^th grades. The Songbird Art Contest Adult Division will be announced in 2022. Learn more at www.SongbirdArtContest.org