Certain birds, especially crows, ravens, jays, hawks, owls, and sparrows/finches are highly susceptible to West Nile virus. Frequently, dead birds are the first indication of virus transmission in a particular area. If you find a bird that has died recently (within 24 hours) with no obvious cause, the California Department of Health Services requests that submit your dead bird report online.

If the bird is a candidate for testing, they will arrange for a District technician to pick it up. Not all birds will be picked up and tested, but the reports alone remain crucial to our control efforts.