The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are ramping up efforts to monitor the West Nile virus this summer by testing local mosquitoes and birds. Residents are encouraged to submit dead birds for testing to help track the virus. Eligible birds include perching species such as crows, bluejays, and robins, among others. Birds should be intact and without evident trauma like gunshots or road injuries. It is critical that the submitted birds are not decomposed, as this affects the validity of the test results. Submissions can be made at the Health Department Main Office in Kewanee. For further details on submitting dead birds or for more information on the West Nile virus, residents can contact the health department or visit their website.
Officials add, “Birds that will be accepted would include the following “Perching Bird” species: crows, blue jays, grackle, starling, robin, cardinal, catbird, mockingbird, sparrows, finches, flycatchers, swallows, warblers, wrens, and small or medium sized hawks and owls.”
Birds dying from the West Nile virus are usually found singly, scattered over a wide area. In contrast, birds that die from other causes (storm mortality, food poisoning, toxicants) often die in groups or clusters in a small area.
Waterfowl, gulls, larger birds such as vultures, and endangered birds, including the bald eagle, will not be accepted for testing. Birds should only be submitted if they have not been damaged by scavenging animals and are not decomposed. Decomposed animals can be recognized as having a strong odor, deflated or dried eyes, maggots present, or being bloated from decomposition gases. Those specimens should be discarded.
For more information on dead bird collection or West Nile virus surveillance, contact the Health Department at 309-852-0197 Extension 270, visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com, find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments, or follow on Twitter.