A sick bird flopping around

[Pharaoh]

on my lawn the last few hours, I called the local authorities and they seem unconcerned,AMAZING!

Bush is gonna screw this one up too!

[htuttle]

1. Does it look like it's running a fever?

Maybe it's time to take matters into your own hands -- throw some asprins at it.

:shrug:


on edit:
OH CRAP! I just noticed that you're in Blue Mounds. That's quite close to where I'm sitting...

Just don't let that sick bird get away, okay?

[pitohui]

4. either put it out of its misery or walk away

i checked the OP's profile and i get wisconsin, west nile and other mosquito borne encephalitis is already confirmed there, no need to track the birds any longer

a bird w. neurological symptoms is not gonna "get away"

[butterfly77]

16. lol

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Rainscents]

21. ROFL!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Thanks for making me laugh!

[Poll_Blind]

2. Ugh, that's a really unusually chilling image, or will be in the future.

Dead animals on the lawn is biblical.

PB

[pitohui]

3. west nile is now confirmed continent wide

there is no longer any need for most areas to pick up dead birds

my parish hasn't done pick up of dead birds for years, we need all of our lab testing for human cases

if you suspect another neurological problem other than mosquito borne encephalitis, such as pesticide poisoning, you can call fish and wildlife or local audubon society and see if they've heard anything

otherwise, in the midst of life we are in death, and yes, even birds get old and seize sometimes

and if you're worried abt the bird flu hype no wonder the local officials are saying get a life i'm afraid it is what i would say as well, you won't find that in your lawn first, it will be seen first at large chicken raising facilities and u.s.d.a. will be on it instantly

[shoelace414]

7. mad robin disease?

[shain from kane]

12. First robin of spring ends up dead on the lawn.

Better than a dead woodpecker.

[pitohui]

13. avian encephalitis affects many if not all species

the west nile form is not restricted to birds of prey, crows, and jays, although many people seem to have this idea

it can infect other species

hell, it can infect people obviously

it has even infected alligators

the symptoms are often neurological so it's v. sad

take steps to control where mosquitoes can breed on your property

[Ladyhawk]

23. Hell, it already burned through the corvids here a couple of years

ago. I'm glad my parrot didn't get it. (Knock on wood.) I've been hesitant to take him outside since all these bird diseases started making the rounds. There was a Newcastle's scare, then West Nile...now avian flu.

[MadisonProgressive]

5. Pharaoh, you must protect us all!

Swallow that bird!!!!!!

[Squatch]

6. Put on some dish gloves and end its misery.

[SoCalDem]

8. Better put an overturned clothesbasket over it, before

a neighborhood cat comes along and grabs it.. bird diseases can spread to cats sometimes..

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. What kind of bird?

Is it sick or was it injured by another animal?

There are wildlife care places that take injured animals.

[Pharaoh]

11. It's a grackle

can't fly, can't seem to walk, but it's eyes look lucid

[SoCalDem]

14. With the recent rains, it could have gotten a drink

from water that got polluted.. When the strays in our neighborhood started dying a few years back, the vet said that after a period of hard rain, things standing in buckets by people's garages (like oil & antifreeze) often gets into the gutter water, and puddles.. Lots of birds & cats die from drinking it..

[datadiva]

10. I'm in California

We get them every year now. West Nile is becoming more common. We are advised here to wait until it dies and then pick it up with plastic. Don't touch the bird. Wrap it in two plastic bags and throw it in the garbage. I had to do that to 5 or 6 birds last year. If you have sick birds in the neighborhood, take care of any standing water on your property and use insect repellent when outdoors. Good Luck!

[SmokingJacket]

15. Weird, my mother had one in her yard too.

However, crows and blue jays have staged a comeback hereabouts, after a few years of really thin populations.

[Jose Diablo]

17. Just disposed of a dead bird here also

Got rubber gloves and a ziplock baggie to seal it up to put in trash can.

Seems to be a lot of dead birds lately. This is the second bird in about a week. I cannot remember ever seeing dead birds in my yard before this year. Also had one about 3 months back that was flopping around, disoriented. But it recovered and flew away. Something changed, it's different today.

Georgia here.

Edit to add: It was a Robin.

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. It is spring time

Lot's more birds around, so there's bound to be a few dead ones here and there.

[Jose Diablo]

20. OK, but why is this spring any different than the 20 or so before

at this house? Like I said, there are more dead ones this year, at least from where I sit.

Maybe it's because most of the surrounding woods have been cleared and homes built, so the birds are dropping in yards, rather than dropping unnoticed in the woods. The 'natural' habitat has been disrupted. That's possible I suppose. Just because I see more, doesn't mean there is more.

Edit to add: Ever notice that right after you buy a new car, all of a sudden you see more cars like you just bought?

[dipsydoodle]

22. Perfectly fair comment

but if you were in England and you saw a swan just trip then over it would be investigated - just incase. Better safe than sorry.

[SPKrazy]

19. Call Dick Cheney! He'll Shoot It Fer Ya!

But you better duck when he shoots, or better yet, run like hell.

He likes to shoot them birdies when they can't fly, but he might just shoot ya in the face too!

[Dem Agog]

24. 3 yrs ago in Virginia dead crows from West Nile littered my yard

I called animal control about the dead crows and got a voice message: "We've already tested for West Nile in all of our planned areas. Please dispose of any dead birds in your garbage can."

Oh well... God this is a fantastic country.