ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando officials said on Monday that a total of 32 bird deaths at Lake Eola Park were linked to avian flu.
Among these, 26 were Royal Mute swans, including three wild mute swans, and six were other wild birds. Currently, 46 swans remain alive in the park.
The deaths come after an ongoing investigation that began in late December, when 21 bird deaths were initially reported. At that time, 19 of the deceased were Royal Mute swans.
In the meantime, a change.org petition to better protect the swans was launched. The petition is calling for “consistent, on-site expert care dedicated specifically to the health and welfare of its swans.”
Andrew Marshall, who says he has volunteered as a caretaker for Lake Eola’s swans for the past five years, created the petition to urge the city to invest more in the swan program.
“These swans can’t speak for themselves,” Marshall said. “So they rely on human care and human intervention to help give them the quality of life they deserve.”
The petition is also asking the city to keep the lake and the surrounding swan habitat clean of garbage and debris, as well as to improve water quality in Lake Eola.
“If you’ve been down to the park, you’ve seen some of the trash that is constantly in the lake,” Marshall said. “It’s mucky. It’s disgusting.”
Orlando officials said that although people rarely get sick with bird flu, they should still try to limit their exposure to the virus by taking the following precautions recommended by the CDC:
- Avoid direct contact with birds and only observe them from a distance
- Do not feed birds
- Avoid contact with any bird excrement
- Remove your shoes before entering your home and clean them off if contamination is suspected
The city said its working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and local veterinarians to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
“Unfortunately the city park at Lake Eola is under-resourced,” Marshall said. “There really needs to be some avian experts and experts on staff.”
On Monday, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan defended the city’s response to the outbreak, saying officials have taken steps in recent years to improve swan care.
“When I first got elected, nobody was taking care of the swans,” Sheehan said. “We’ve instituted a veterinarian program, a feeding program. All of these things to take care of our beloved Lake Eola swans, and we will continue to do so.”
Warning signs have also been posted throughout the park, advising visitors to keep their distance from birds and protect their pets.
Visitors to the park say the impact of the outbreak is noticeable.
Morgan Todd, who was picnicking at Lake Eola on Monday, said she has seen far fewer swans than during past visits.
“Last time I was here, I was literally surrounded by swans,” Todd said. “Now they are not even in the vicinity, which is honestly kind of upsetting.”
Marshall said he hopes to work with the city to implement changes and improve conditions for the remaining swans.
“We want to be part of the solution,” he said. “We are asking the city to take measures to make meaningful change and be responsible swan stewards.”