Groveland Twp.-Large flocks of starlings in Fred Pellerio’s backyard are not uncommon. Yet when a significant number of the birds were found dead near a telephone pole and wooded area in Pellerio’s yard he became concerned.
‘Since about the beginning of July, we’ve found about 25 dead juvenile starlings,? said Pellerio, a resident and local science teacher. ‘We’re not sure what caused so many to die.?
Concerned from the many deaths and the threat of disease, Pellerio gathered up the birds and delivered them to the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Office at the Holly Recreation Area in Holly.
The birds were then sent to DNR Wildlife Biologist Tom Cooley from the wildlife diseases laboratory in Rose Lake Mich. where he examined two of the 25 starlings sent to him from the township.
‘Poison is a possibility,? said Cooley, following the autopsy. ‘The birds suffered from trauma and had lots of fluid in their lungs. Basically they suffocated.?
Cooley says both were juvenile birds and had choke-cherry pits in their gizzards.
The gizzard is the muscular pouch behind the stomach and often contains ingested grit that aids in the breakdown of food before digestion.
‘We’re not sure of the cause of death. However, it could be pesticides contracted from something they had eaten.?
While West Nile Disease was not ruled out by Cooley, the indicators of the disease–including dehydration and malnutrition–were not prevalent during the examination. Although more common in crows, West Nile has also been found in blue jays, ravens and grackles, said Cooley.
Since finding the birds in early July, Pellerios says the large flocks of birds have since moved on and no dead birds have been recovered.