Disease that blinded, killed songbirds vanishes as mysteriously as it arrived

[Still Waters]

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 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 Penn'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.

https://phys.org/news/2021-08-disease-songbirds-mysteriously.html

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[Nosy.Matters]

At least they didn't say it was in the bird food people are feeding them.