Dead Birds will be collected between April 16 and October 15.
Criteria
The following dead birds, will be accepted for testing. (all others will be discarded without testing):
Bluejays
Cardinals
Catbirds
Crows
Finches
Flycatchers
Grackles
Hawks
Mocking Birds
Owls
Pigeons
Robins
Sparrows
Starlings
Swallows
Warblers
Wrens
Birds should only be submitted if they are freshly dead (within 24 to 48 hours) and have not decomposed. Birds should have no obvious cause of death such as being found crushed in a roadway and most likely killed by a motor vehicle, or killed by gunshot.
We will not accept dead birds that present with any of the following:
Bloating with decomposition gases
Damage due to scavenging animals
Dried/deflated eyes
Maggots present
Strong odor present
If the bird is acceptable for testing, use rubber gloves when picking up dead or sick birds. If you do not have gloves, insert your hand into a plastic bag and use it like a glove.