Bird

Indiana residents and agricultural workers are being urged to remain vigilant as avian influenza continues to spread across the state.

The bird flu is hitting the sandhill crane population hard around Fish Lake, located just east of La Porte, as thousands of cranes migrate to the area.

It’s estimated North America has lost more than three billion birds over the past 50 years — mostly due to climate change and habitat loss.

A lack of food in the Northeast and some parts of Canada is causing some birds to return to Michigan for the winter.