Illinois quick hits: Cicada eating birds getting sick; ATM skimmer warning

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[June 11, 2024 By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square

Cicada eating birds getting sick

The mass emergence of cicadas in Illinois has meant a feast for birds but has also led to health problems in their young offspring.   

Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
DNR.Illinois.gov

Officials at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn said they are seeing problems with blue jays, house sparrows and starlings where their eyes are swollen and crusty. They believe the source of the disease is vitamin A deficiency because cicadas are void of vitamin A.

ATM skimmer warning

Police in Marion are urging customers who used an ATM at Banterra Bank on May 26 to cancel their card immediately.

The Marion Police Department said someone attached a skimmer to the ATM. Police are advising customers to check their bank records and report any suspicious or fraudulent activity.

Route 66 stories

The Illinois State Museum is seeking individuals to share their personal experiences with the original Route 66 in Illinois, including travelers, businesses that operated along the route, workers who built the highway and others.

Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. Historians from the Illinois State Museum will record and share oral histories of people who can recall their connections to the historic roadway, which operated from 1926 until decommissioning in 1985.

 

 

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