Disease Hits Eastern Songbirds

A disease still unidentified by scientists is affecting eastern songbirds. Midatlantic and southeastrn Blue Jays, Grackles, and American Robins are dying from a disease that makes their eyes swollen and crusty. Infected birds also appear to be disoriented and unable to use their legs properly. In April birds in the Washington DC areas were seen dying in numbers with similar, strange symptoms. By the end of May similar reports were coming from Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. By June, sick birds were found in Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida Indiana and Pennsylvania. Thousands of birds have died according to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. Labs studying the disease have not yet isolated the cause. After extensive testing, several common pathogens have been ruled out. The USGS has recommended to stop feeding birds and sanitize feeders or bird baths with 10% bleach solution, and pick up dead birds with a disposable plastic bag or glove covering your hand.

An interesting speculation about the cause of the mysterious illness is that a pathogenic fungus carried by cicadas is responsible. A cicada swarm recently hatched after seventeen years underground. Since birds eat a lot of cicadas, it is possible that pathogenic spores are either swallowed or land in their eyes. So far there is no evidence that the cicada fungus, which is lethal to the insects, affects vertebrates. One other suggestion is that the disease is similar to House Finch eye disease, a type of conjunctivitis caused by a bacterium, however sick House Finches do not exhibit the neurological symptoms found in the affected songbirds. Examining all likely possibilities takes time, so the disease will spread and bird lovers should take precautions and report any sick birds exhibiting these strange symptoms. Bird feeder removal seems to be helping as reports of sick birds have dropped in the last few weeks. Experts think that this outbreak will not have long lasting, population level affects if this trend continues. [photo: NPS]