It’s worrisome for warblers like goldfinches (NJ’s state bird), sparrows and chickadees, and those who love them: Songbirds in our area are sick, and the
cause is still unknown.
The Mercer
County Naturalist Newsletter recommends cleaning and putting away bird baths
(10% bleach and 90% water) and feeders for the time being, while this
“mortality event” that’s “occurring in nestling and fledgling songbirds in the
mid-Atlantic, extending into the Southeast and eastern upper Midwest” is
investigated. https://tinyurl.com/y5epfsrx
Numerous young birds – also including orioles, woodpeckers, blue jays, robins and cardinals – have been
found to have eye and neurologic issues, the publication continued.
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| American goldfinch |
Although birds are susceptible to several
viruses and bacteria, it’s already known that this outbreak was not primarily
caused by salmonella, chlamydia, avian influenza virus or West Nile virus.
Those who see birds with head tremors,
partial paralysis or weakness in the legs; or birds falling to the side or
unable to stand at all may contact the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Veterinarian Dr.
Nicole Lewis (Nicole.lewis@dep.nj.gov) or call 877-WARN-DEP for any additional
instructions.
The
article linked here looks at this issue beyond New Jersey. https://tinyurl.com/yay333ct
Will this season come to be called the “silent summer”? We pray not.
Unfinished ocean business
creatures, the NYTimes book review section featured a cover
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| Tufted titmouse |
review of
two new books about ocean life. The essay
itself included myriad surprises about who lives in that vast watery world, and
where – with much of the information only recently discovered, and
fascinating. If you lack time or
book-length interest, at least read the review and enjoy the cover
illustration. h
“The question I want to ask is simpler than [whether human
beings have the right to take another animal’s life, and if so for what
reasons]. I want to know why it is still
legal to kill animals in ways that cause inexpressible pain and fear and
destruction, to both the targeted animals and an immense range of others.”
Margaret Renkl’s opinion column last fall, “How not to kill an animal,” is powerful. She writes against inhumane ways to kill
animals when that is to be done, including animal traps, a hideously cruel
vestige of earlier, less enlightened times.
Animal traps, which can torture any animal caught in them, maiming or
killing pets and people, are outlawed elsewhere, but not in most of the
US. https://tinyurl.com/29tr3jx9
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| House sparrow |
One antidote to the horrors involved
with animal traps is the Sept. 14 webinar from the Humane Society of the US (described
below), “Protecting your pets and wildlife from traps.” Yes, the fall hunting season is closing in, but
trapping animals happens all year round – made legal with phony claims of
predator control or “nuisance” wildlife control — and it must be fought.
Here are details about both the
trapping issue and the webinar, including a registration form. I hope you’ll take a look and consider
attending next month’s session. https://tinyurl.com/4nwjhw4e
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Please
note: AnimalBeatII will return from vacation next month. This is the 200th AnimalBeatII blog
post, so if you want to keep reading about animals, your course is clear!