Burr Ridge residents Linda and Russell Myers were out for their daily coffee break Friday when they noticed something strange in Hinsdale. It was a bald eagle standing by the curb with its head bowed.
“We like touring around different areas and all of a sudden we saw this bird on the street,” Linda Myers said. “I took another shot and it didn’t look right, so I was concerned about that, so I decided to call someone.”
She said they stopped and sat with the eagle for about 30 minutes after calling for help on Madison Street, north of Ogden Street. The raptor was twice found with enough energy to fly briefly, the second time entering a forested area before being spotted and captured by Midwest Bird Collision Wardens.
“He was definitely having trouble flying. We knew it was neurological, which is a sign of bird flu,” Myers said. “I wasn’t surprised to find out that it was.”
The eagle was euthanized the next day at the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center Forest Preserve in DuPage County because it was suspected that it had avian influenza, said Beth Sirott, a spokeswoman for the forest preserve.
Sarah Reich, chief veterinarian at DuPage Wildlife Center (formerly known as Willowbrook Wildlife Center), said: “Clinical symptoms indicate that it is very likely avian influenza.” I knew it before I came,” he said.
Reich said bird flu was first reported in the United States in late 2021, but cases are increasing in the region.
“It comes and goes,” she said. “This variant appears to be a bit more aggressive. Although the risk of transmission to humans is considered to be low, we recommend that you do not touch any animals that may be infected. It’s hard for people not to help, but we recommend just walking away.”
Reich said bird flu is spread by particles, so there is no need to physically touch an infected animal.
This variant of avian influenza, also known as HPAI and H5N1, is highly pathogenic avian influenza and is circulating across the country. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in late December: “We are monitoring large-scale waterfowl mortality events in many locations across Illinois.”
This variant has been positively identified in multiple bird species in Illinois, according to information from the DuPage County Forest Preserve District. District authorities are on high alert and are taking precautionary measures. As an example, the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center has stopped accepting waterfowl and other waterfowl for treatment.
“Our top priority is the safety of our staff, volunteers, patients and animals,” Reich said.
Low-pathogenic avian influenza circulates in nature and is routinely seen in wild waterfowl and shorebird populations such as geese, ducks, and gulls, which typically show no signs of serious illness. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, on the other hand, is similar to human influenza viruses. Or the flu. As with human influenza, it’s difficult to get ahead of it.
“The situation is changing every year and we need different vaccines,” Reich said.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza can infect poultry and cause high morbidity and mortality, and cattle, cats and other mammals are also susceptible in this outbreak, officials said.
Officials said the chance of human infection is low, but still possible. Clinical manifestations range from mild influenza-like symptoms such as fever and upper respiratory symptoms to severe respiratory illness and pneumonia. People who have been in close contact with infected birds for an extended period of time, such as those who work in wildlife rehabilitation centers or farms, are at much higher risk.
The DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center is asking people not to feed waterfowl and waterfowl, but it is not yet recommending the removal of backyard feeders because songbirds are considered low risk.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is monitoring the development of highly pathogenic avian influenza. If five or more birds are dead or dying in one location within a 24-hour period, you can report it to an IDNR biologist. https://wildlifeillinois.org/idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for the Pioneer Press.
First edition publication date:
