Please Note: Only sick or dead waterfowl, gulls or shorebirds will be laboratory tested for avian influenza; and only if they are from a die-off (a die-off is defined as 6 or more birds found sick or dead in a short time period).  If you see a die-off of waterfowl, gulls or shorebirds, please call the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Lab at (517) 336-5030 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours: 1-800-292-7800

Please report all others using the web form. Look through the instructions below first to clear up any questions you may have before filling out the web form.

Click here to report a sick or dead bird

Instructions For Using the On-Line Reporting Web Form:

Do we want to laboratory test the bird you found?

Submitting corvid species (crows, blue jays and ravens) for West Nile Virus lab testing.

Help with general bird identification.

How to collect a specimen for testing.

How to dispose of a dead bird.

Purpose of web-based reporting form.

Domestic poultry.

Questions about using the form.

Do we want to laboratory test the bird you found?
Please Note: Only sick or dead waterfowl, gulls or shorebirds will be laboratory tested for avian influenza; and only if they are from a die-off (a die-off is defined as 6 or more birds found sick or dead in a short time period).  If you see a die-off of waterfowl, gulls or shorebirds, please call the Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Lab at (517) 336-5030 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours: 1-800-292-7800. You may also contact the local MDNR Wildlife Field Office. For birds fewer than 6 and/or species other than waterfowl, gulls or shorebirds, please use the web form for submitting your sighting. This form is monitored by the MDNR Wildlife Disease Lab on a regular basis.

Submitting Corvid Species (crows, blue jays, and ravens) for WNV Laboratory Testing
Because corvid species are often the earliest species testing positive for West Nile Virus in an area, we will again be testing dead corvids for WNV based on zip codes. Corvids will not be tested for avian influenza. For more information on WNV reporting and testing, visit http://www.michigan.gov/westnilevirus

Help with general bird identification
Cornell University On-Line Bird Guide

Great Backyard Bird Count On-line Guide

USGS Patuxent Bird Identification Center

eNature.com On-line Bird Field Guide

How to Collect a Specimen (Dead Bird) for Testing
If you are willing to collect the bird for testing, please use disposable rubber gloves to put the specimen in a double plastic bag. To reduce the risk of transmission of diseases, always avoid bare-handed contact when handling dead birds. If gloves are not available, you may turn a plastic shopping bag inside out and scoop up the specimen with the bag. Wash your hands with soap and water. Please freeze the specimen. If freezing is not possible, it must at least be kept cool (refrigerated or on ice). It is also important to make sure that the specimen remains dry.

How to Dispose of a Dead Bird
A dead bird should be buried or disposed of in your garbage. Always avoid bare-handed contact when handling dead birds. If gloves are not available, you may turn a plastic shopping bag inside out and scoop up the specimen with the bag.

Purpose of Web-based Reporting Form
The web-based reporting of dead or sick birds allows for rapid reporting of dead bird sightings. Reports of dead birds are important as they will be used to detect trends, over time, to determine a normal baseline wildlife mortality figure. The data generated from the reporting form can be used to create and maintain up-to-date tables on the website. Sick or dead animal reports can be submitted year round.

Domestic Poultry
If you would like to report a case of illness in domestic poultry, please contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture at (517) 373-1077 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours Emergency Management Coordinator: (517) 373-0440.

Questions about using the form
Contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Lab at (517) 336-5030 if you have any questions about entering your information.