'There's skeletons.' Residents concerned about increasing number of dead birds on Bayville beaches
Bayville residents contacted the DEC and are worried it’s an avian flu outbreak.
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Residents in Bayville say they're concerned about the increasing number of dead birds on the beach.
They say it started weeks ago. Dead birds, like geese and seagulls, were found scattered across the beach. They’re worried it could be an outbreak of avian flu.
Donna DelTatto says she’s lived in Bayville for 25 years and has never seen anything like this.
“I walked from here to the village, and I counted at least 10 of the,” DelTatto said. “Some of them are bony down there like there's skeletons.”
She walks the beach every day with her dog and says she’s worried about getting too close.
“Spring is coming,” DelTatto said. “People come down here and sit on the beach if it's a nice day, and no one wants to and to get sick or anything...They just want to know what's going on, and just to remove them."
DelTatto says she called the Department of Environmental Conservation and filled out a form, but no one came to check on the issue.
Resident Bob Schwalb is also concerned.
“I would like to see somebody come here and take the test and see what is killing these birds. Is it the bird flu?” Schwalb said.
The DEC says its aware that the avian flu has been diagnosed in dead birds across the island. Because the flu is so widespread, the DEC says they won’t be able to retrieve every carcass.
“We were all hoping initially that, like other avian influenza viruses, we might see it for a couple of years and it would disappear,” said Kevin Hynes, wildlife health program leader for the DEC. “But that doesn't seem to be the case with this one so far.”
The DEC recommends the public avoid contact with dead birds. To remove a bird, the DEC recommends to wear gloves and masks, make sure the carcass is triple bagged, and sanitize everything afterwards.
“All of us have been kind of trying to figure out what the process is or who's going to be the one to take the lead on it,” said resident Rich Straub. “That's a pretty intimidating process to be done and handled. And I think it should be done some professionally.”
