Raszyn. Dead swans in the nature reserve. Appeal to residents

Raszyn Ponds is a nature reserve. – I noticed sick swans there. They are easy to recognize. They cannot walk and have problems flying. A drooping neck is also a sign of health problems. There were not only sick swans there, but also dead ones. I notified the services and the commune office – says a local social activist and nature lover.

The sick swans were taken to the bird sanctuary at the Warsaw Zoo, and their treatment is going well. Volunteer firefighters from Raszyn helped collect the dead birds.

– We have been informed about two dead swans. They were found in the Puchalski pond, in the Raszyn commune. We have no information about dead animals in other water bodies – said Anna Kozłowska, District Veterinary Officer in Pruszków. – Samples were taken for testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease – she added.

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The results are negative. – This means that we are not dealing with this infectious disease – Kozłowska noted. No Newcastle disease was found either.

So what happened to the birds living in the ponds? The Raszyn commune authorities suspect botulism.

“The latest event that took place at Puchalski Pond in Raszyn resulted in the death of four swans caused by botulism (botulism)” – the commune authorities reported in a statement published on the office's website.

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The District Veterinary Inspectorate will not confirm whether botulism could have contributed to the swans’ deaths because it does not have such competences.

– As a veterinary inspection, we have specific diseases that we combat ex officio and only in this direction can we take samples. The moment we rule out an infectious disease, our competences end – Kozłowska noted. – Botulism, which is suspected there, is the result of weather conditions, warm, stagnant water and its low level, and a large number of dead plants in the water reservoir – she added.

Feeding birds can also contribute to bird disease. The Raszyn commune has appealed to residents to stop feeding birds.

“Getting rid of bread from home and throwing it into the lake or its immediate vicinity not only pollutes the reservoir, but also exposes animals to deadly diseases. For water birds, i.e. ducks and swans, bread and other leftovers are unacceptable food that causes gastrointestinal diseases,” the office stressed.

As recommended by the Raszyn commune office, if someone really wants to, wild birds should be fed only in winter. “In the spring and summer season, there is enough proper and fresh food for birds in nature. Moreover, when temperatures are high, food secondarily contaminated with excrements is a breeding ground for bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms and as a result, animals become infected, ill, and poisoned,” it was noted.

What to feed the birds? The best is chopped vegetables without added salt or other spices or various types of cereals.