Dead birds in Odon area worry veterinarian (Indiana)
Posted by rose on January 7th, 2009Dead birds in Odon area worry veterinarian
By Patricia Morrison, News Editor
ODON — An Odon veterinarian wasn’t sure what to make of all the dead birds on his land, but when more were found Monday on other area farms he began to worry.
“At first I thought it was West Nile Virus or bird flu,” Edward Borter, DVM, said. He was especially concerned as the county recently received confirmation of its first human case of West Nile.
The birds in question are Purple Martins, which are dying in “massive numbers,” according to Borter.
On his farm alone he found dead birds around all of his seven boxes, each of which contain 12 houses for the birds.
On opening one of the boxes from which a dead bird was protruding, Borter found 11 dead Martins in the box. He also found the eggs had been pushed out of the nests.
Borter was able to catch a live sick bird and plans on sending it to Purdue University or the state Board of Health to try and determine the problem.
Purple Martins are normally not overly affected by West Nile, according to Borter. After studying the dead birds, he has concluded they are young birds that have migrated to the area and he thinks they may have starved to death.
“The rain and cold have left us with no insects,” he said. “Martins can eat up to 2,000 insects a day.”
Their main meal is mosquitoes, according to Borter, and their deaths may make this year’s West Nile Virus problem even greater.
He is reminding residents to wear gloves when dealing with dead birds and to place them in a container if they are bringing them to there veterinarian or the local health department for examination.
It could very well be either, or neither.
Anyone think we will ever be told what these birds died from?
I dont.
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