ANGOLA, IN — A family of jail birds has left behind a nearly $3,000 mess at the historic Steuben County Jail.

Steuben County Commissioners have approved spending money to clean up the waste left behind by a family of starlings. The main damage was in the duct work at the old jail that’s now used by Northeast Indiana Community Corrections in Angola.

A female starling reportedly entered the building through the attic and ended up in the duct work, where she hatched chicks.

In addition to the cleaning an extensive disinfecting of the ducts will also be done to eliminate air quality problems.

County Commissioners hope to be able to file an insurance claim to cover part of the cost.

The former jail, completed in 1877, is on the National Register of Historic Places.