Songbird disease mysteriously ends

PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvanians can feed birds again.

A disease that appeared from spring into summer blinding and killing a variety of songbirds in at least 10 states left wildlife experts and officials stumped as to its cause, and recommending that people stop filling feeders in the belief it could mitigate the spread of the illness where birds congregated.

Now, the disease has apparently run its course, leaving experts without knowing if it will reappear.

Martin Hackett, a spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said the school’s Wildlife Futures Program, which hosted an online reporting form, originally saw high numbers of reported bird deaths in the spring. But the numbers started dropping by late July into August.

Tests ruled out avian influenza and other viral and bacterial diseases. No poison, toxin or parasite was identified as a possible cause. Hackett said the cause of the illness remains unknown.

The disease struck birds in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, Florida and elsewhere. It killed a range of species, all suffering ocular and neurological issues, marked by swollen eyes with a crusty discharge, and erratic flight and stumbling.

Species affected included blue jay, European starling, common grackle, American robin, Northern cardinal, house finch, house sparrow, Eastern bluebird, red-bellied woodpecker, Carolina chickadee and Carolina wren. The malady appeared to affect juvenile birds more than adults.

There was some speculation that Brood X cicadas that emerged this spring after 17 years could be linked to the disease. But officials said deaths were occurring in areas where the brood wasn’t particularly active.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission lifted its recommendation to stop feeding birds, but still recommends feeders be cleaned weekly with soap and water, then disinfected.