So far, confirmed incidents of this strange phenomenon have been documented in Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.
Could it be possible that we are dealing with a “mystery disease” that started in one state and that has now spread to other surrounding states?
Or is something else going on here?
We are being told that “blue jays, common grackles and European starlings” are the most common birds that are being affected.
But whatever is happening is not just limited to one species of birds, and I think that should be a red flag.
“We’re experiencing an unusual amount of bird mortality this year,” said Kate Slankard, an avian biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We have yet to figure out what the problem is. The condition seems to be pretty deadly.”
In Kentucky, the bird deaths seem to have begun in late May. The following comes directly from the official website of the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources…
In late May, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs. Wildlife agencies in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia have reported similar problems.
State wildlife agencies are working with diagnostic laboratories to investigate the cause of mortality. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has sent more than 20 samples for lab testing to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia. More results are pending, but no definitive cause of death has been identified at this time.
In Indiana, authorities tested for avian flu and West Nile virus, but those tests came back negative…
Indiana wildlife officials said there have been suspicious deaths of blue jays, robins, northern cardinals and brown-headed cowbirds in five counties. James Brindle, spokesman for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, said birds there have tested negative for avian influenza and West Nile virus.
Obviously a lot more testing needs to be done. If it does turn out to be a disease that is causing this, is it a disease that can also spread to humans? Moving forward, that could be one of the most important questions that needs to be answered.
Hopefully we can get some solid answers, because this is not the first time something like this has happened. Back in September, one expert said that it appeared that “hundreds of thousands” of birds were dropping dead in New Mexico…
Wildlife experts in New Mexico say birds in the region are dropping dead in alarming numbers, potentially in the “hundreds of thousands.”
“It appears to be an unprecedented and a very large number,” Martha Desmond, a professor at New Mexico State University’s department of fish, wildlife, and conservation ecology, told NBC’s Albuquerque affiliate KOB.
Our local news in MD said the birds are eating massive amounts of the 17-year cicadas in the region. It's making them sick and killing them.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the article its also happening in areas that don't have cicadas this year
ReplyDeleteSome reports were, some unusual storms making weather severe for migration travel, it became very tough, along with bird starvation prevalent too indicated. Also, could airplanes being spraying something odd? Don't know?
ReplyDeleteHope balance is restored for our Earth, nature, populace!
Regarding airplanes spraying something... I’ve noticed a strong pesticide smell, similar to the smell of the Western Exterminator uses. However it is a stronger odor and feels a little like it’s burning the inside of my nostrils. I live in south Orange County in California. The smell is not from my pest control guy, because it dissipates quickly and doesn’t recur unless he returns. I’ve thought it odd at the time. Since you are a scientist Scott, perhaps this will mean something to you about what’s killing the birds...
ReplyDelete