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Blue Jay observed after unexplained death.  Photo credit: Ginger Rood.
Thank you for taking time to report your observation of a sick or dead bird.  

In late May, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with symptoms of eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as signs of neurological problems.  Wildlife biologists in Indiana, Ohio, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia have documented similar cases.  No definitive cause(s) of sickness or death has been identified at this time.   Your report will be reviewed and may help us to better understand this issue.

As of June 17, 2021 unexplained bird deaths have been recorded in several Kentucky counties.  Blue Jays, Common Grackles and European Starlings have been the most common species reported.  Kentucky Fish & Wildlife and other states' wildlife agencies are working with diagnostic laboratories to investigate the cause(s) of mortality.  We have shipped numerous affected bird specimens to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia for pending diagnostics. 

Birds congregating at feeders and baths can transmit diseases to one another.  Therefore, Kentucky Fish & Wildlife recommends:
1) the public in Jefferson County, Boone County and Kenton County to stop feeding birds until further notice, and
2) everyone in Kentucky clean their bird feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution immediately and then once per week thereafter. 

If you must handle dead birds (for example to keep them away from pets) please practice good hygiene:  Wear gloves or use a plastic bag to pick up the birds, deposit them into a secured trash can, and then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.  If Kentucky Fish & Wildlife needs to collect a bird or get more information from you based on your report, we will contact you using the phone and/or email address you provide below.

The Department will post additional information on our website, fw.ky.gov, and social media channels as diagnostic results are received. 

If you have already reported the dead or sick birds you observed, please exit this online survey at this time.  Thank you.

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1. Please enter your contact information below in case we need to get in touch about your observation.

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2. How many SICK birds did you observe at this site? (Include only sick birds not previously reported to the Department)

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3. How many DEAD birds did you observe at this site? (Include only dead birds not previously reported to the Department)

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6. Which of the following symptoms did you observe on any of the birds above?  (Select all that apply)

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7. What was the date you observed the dead or sick birds?

Date

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8. What was the site like where you found the dead or sick bird(s)?

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9. What are the LAT / LONG coordinates for the location where you observed the dead or sick bird(s)?   (You can obtain LAT/Long coordinates from a smart phone, GPS, or map website such as Google Maps.   This is extremely helpful information for us if you can provide it. )

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10. If you do not have the LAT/LONG coordinates for the location, please describe the location as exactly as possible.  List either the closest street address, or nearest intersection of roads, or a similar identifiable location we can use for mapping.

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11. Which of the following best describes you, personally, in relationship to this report?

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12. Please upload a photo showing the dead or sick bird(s).

PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF file types only.
Choose File

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13. Please upload a second photo of the dead or sick bird(s), clearly showing any visible symptoms if possible.

PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF file types only.
Choose File

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14. Please upload a third photo of the dead or sick bird(s), if possible showing all species if more than one was observed.

PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF file types only.
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If you have additional photos that you believe would be helpful, please email them to fw.publicaffairs@ky.gov

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15. Are you a KDFWR staff member submitting this report on behalf of a member of the public? 

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