The swallows are dying: 'This type of mortality event is unprecedented'

KATU.com
Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:38 UTC

Salem, Oregon - The stormy weather we had recently didn't just knock down some trees and power lines, it also took a toll on one of the state's bird populations.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has received a number of calls about dead and dying Barn and Violet-green Swallows, with reports coming in from the Port of Saint Helens to as far south as Junction City.

It's estimated that thousands of the birds have died this past week. Groups of 10 to 200 have been reported dead in barns and other structures and, according to ODFW, the deaths appear to be in greater numbers near rivers and standing water.

"This type of mortality event is unprecedented and considered a rare and unusual event," said Colin Gillin, ODFW State Wildlife Veterinarian. "The effect on bird populations is unknown."

What happened to the birds? Experts are blaming the recent heavy rains and high winds, which they believe prevented the swallows from getting food. When the birds were examined by a lab at Oregon State University, the swallows were thin and it was obvious they had not eaten recently.

Swallows feed on insects and when the weather gets bad, it has an effect on the young and weaker birds because they suddenly become unable to take in enough food to meet their energy requirements.

Sick or dead wildlife can be reported to the ODFW Health Lab at (866) 968-2600. Keep in mind that only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may treat sick or injured wildlife.

Reader Comments

Joan · 2013-10-05T01:28:09Z

Yes

I have also the swallow are missing in numbers, it was one of the seasonal changes I notice, I love to watch them. This year I didn't notice them so much. I love to see them darting in the skies.

Makes me think as earth changes occur there are many species die offs maybe to be replaced by another model of evolution. Possibly another message from the universe.

Arvilla · 2013-10-05T17:37:29Z

HEAVY Rains

Whereas Salem is located inland in the lush agricultural valley of the I-5 corridor, we at the Oregon Coast used to see lots of playfully swarming and graceful swallows, but I too, have noticed how there have been almost none this past summer and fall. Yet, with the daily seed I provide to a current murder of crows (parents, offspring), several ring necked doves, blue jays, chickadees and one chipmunk...I know first-hand how much these critters like to gather, and do get along in order to appreciate the scattered ease of this bounty.

Especially when, in the last few weeks, we have been sitting under the most torrential and noisy downpours I have ever witnessed as an Oregonian (15 yrs at coast)...with gigantic, really heavy cells of water that pass over and over again, usually throughout the night. And while winds during the day were expected around 75 mph, they ended up being closer to 50 mph gusts. Thus, I have wondered how any of the birds who spend long nights in tall fir trees (no barns here) manage to survive such onslaught of continual wind and rain. But eventually, there they are each morning. Often times there will have been lightening strikes and far off thunder and with this only being October, it is actually too early for such steady rainfall, let alone this amount...even for we who know so well about increased precipitation in temperate rainforests of the PNW.

As a non-coincidence because it's happened so often, I will add that it is usually on the clear sunny days just before these storms that there will have been that familiar sound of non fly-way jets (throughout the day) flying high above any visibility (no longer leave tell-tale chemtrails) which leads me to believe these freaky rain storms are being seeded, not by natural forces, but a far more deviant nature of mankind.

The bottom line: keep listening to the skies to note if there are similar patterns in your area and if possible, do put out food for the local (aviary, smaller) wildlife so they don't become weakened and starve. With the torrential (monsoon-like) rains here and a highly unusual snow storm that killed a herd of cattle in Argentina, I have a hunch this is going to be a far rougher winter for the entire globe.

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The swallows are dying: 'This type of mortality event is unprecedented'

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