Mass Bird Illness Across The Country
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An unknown illness is causing mass bird die-off across America. Some of the symptoms of these birds are: swollen crusty eyes, blindness, head tilts, affected nervous system, and all affected birds are juvenile birds. More about this in the video published on July 9, 2021, “What is Going On? (Mass Bird Die-Off Across America!)“, below:
Wildlife expert Dr. Scott Weber of Penn Vet said this mysterious bird disease had impacted many backyard birds such as blue jay. This mysterious bird illness was first reported in Washington D.C. has spread up to mid-Atlantic and into the Midwest; it had been reported in: Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia.
A mysterious illness is killing birds across several states in the south and midwestern US, and wildlife scientists are rushing to try to find the cause, with many victims suffering from crusty eyes, swollen faces and the inability to fly. Wildlife managers in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia first began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs in late May, according to a statement from the US Geological Survey, which added: “No definitive cause of death is identified at this time.”In Kentucky, the department of fish and wildlife resources is asking the public to report encounters with sick and dead birds through a new online reporting system. They say the species affected thus far have included blue jays, common grackles and European starlings, but other species may also be affected. More than 20 samples have been sent out for testing. In Ohio, the Ohio Wildlife Center posted on Facebook that it has been admitting songbirds with eye issues and is working with authorities to help determine what might be causing local birds to become sick. Indiana wildlife officials said they tested the birds for avian influenza and west Nile virus, and the samples came back negative. According to the USGS, birds congregating at feeders and baths can transmit disease to one another. They recommend that people cease feeding birds until this mortality event has concluded, clean feeders and baths with a 10% bleach solution, and avoid handling birds. While it’s not known if the mortality is linked to bird baths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned in April about a salmonella outbreak linked to wild songbirds across several states. The outbreak killed eight people. In this new disease outbreak, people report that the birds are behaving as though they are blind, and are not avoiding humans. According to a report from NBC News, wildlife biologist Laura Kearns of the Ohio division of wildlife has expressed that infectious disease, pesticides and even the cicada outbreak are suspects. Even cicadas have been plagued this year, with their 17-year waiting period interrupted by a fungus that alters their behavior and causes part of their body to rot away. Bird mortality events are not all that uncommon. Last year, hundreds of migratory birds dropped dead in New Mexico in a massive die-off. After analyzing samples and testing theories, the New Mexico department of game and fish eventually concluded that the birds had died from starvation and unexpectedly bad weather.“Migrating birds entered New Mexico in poor body condition and some birds were already succumbing to starvation,” the agency wrote. “The unusual winter storm exacerbated conditions, likely causing birds to become disoriented and fly into objects and buildings. Some were struck by vehicles and many landed on the ground where cold temperatures, ice, snow and predators killed them.”According to a 2007 study, in the video published on June 24, 2021, “Mystery illness strikes down birds across US south and midwest“, below:
The disease is said to target songbirds, robins and blue jays. ABC News’ Andrea Fujii has more, in the video published on July 8, 2021, “Mystery bird illness reported in at least 10 states“, below:
To prevent birds from congregating (in order to help birds to socially distance), bird experts suggested to take down your bird feeders and clean your bird feeders and bird bath with 10% bleach solution. If you do find a dead bird, experts said to not touch the bird by your bare hand, but glove your hand with disposable glove and use double bag to dispose of it. Be sure to keep your pets away from the dead bird.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources provided an update about the ongoing investigation of an unexplained bird illness affecting birds in Kentucky and elsewhere. It also expanded the list of counties where it encourages the public to stop feeding birds, in the video published on July 2, 2021, “Dr. Christine Casey – July 2, 2021 update about unexplained bird illness“, below:
Finally the mystery of the dying birds is solved: In the video published on June 21, 2021, “We Solved the Mystery of the Dying Birds“, below:
According to the video above, from the cyanobacterium to the bald eagle—toxin transmission is through the food chain. The death of these birds had been caused by a toxin from a recently discovered species of bacteria, Aetokthonos hydrillicola, growing in colonies on aquatic vegetation, producing the neurotoxin aetokthonotoxin (AETX). Waterbirds, tadpoles, aquatic turtles, snails, and fish consume this contaminated vegetation and develop vacuolar myelinopathy. Predators develop vacuolar myelinopathy when they consume animals that have been grazing on plants covered with Aetokthonos hydrillicola
So, in order to prevent further death of these birds, it is important for us to find alternative herbicide for hydrilla (hydrilla accumulates bromine from the environment). We need to find alternate herbicide that does not contain bromine because cyanobacteria sucks bromine out of the weed/hydrilla. We should stop using bromine containing herbicide to try to control hydrilla because it (bromine containing herbicide) could be feeding bromine straight to the cyanobacteria. We also need to monitor bromine in the lakes and look for ways to make it less available to cyanobacteria. Finally, we need to look for ways to combat hydrilla the invasive weed and the toxic bacteria. Solving this mystery would help to protect the entire freshwater ecosystems and the people living near them.
Until the alternative herbicide is found, bird experts suggested to take down your bird feeders and clean your bird feeders and bird bath with 10% bleach solution. If you do find a dead bird, experts said to not touch the bird by your bare hand, but glove your hand with disposable gloves and use double bag to dispose of it. Be sure to keep your pets away from the dead bird.
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker
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