What's behind the unknown disease killing birds in New Jersey?
An unknown disease has been recently killing New Jersey birds, after similar discoveries had been made in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware and other mid-Atlantic states as early as mid-May. Dr. Nicole Lewis, the wildlife veterinarian for the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, has collected about 30 birds, all of them hatchlings and fledglings, that have died of the affliction, but estimates that it has killed upward of 100 birds in the state. "We're seeing a lot of eye swelling with the discharge around it," Lewis said of the symptoms. "[The birds] kind of seem like they're blind. Or we're also seeing neurological signs, such as impacting their brains, they're stumbling and they're falling over. They're not right." These symptoms, Lewis said, impair the birds' ability to eat and fly, and eventually they die from it. Birds have been found alive with these symptoms and taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers, but none has seen the conditions improve, and most have died. Though the nature of the disease has yet to be discovered, some known diseases, such as the West Nile Virus, which has killed millions of birds and can affect humans, have been ruled out. There have also been no reports of the disease affecting humans or any other animals. When a dead bird suspected of having this disease is collected, a necropsy, the equivalent of a human autopsy, is performed and tests are run in hopes of ruling out other diseases. Once everything known, such as West Nile and salmonella, is ruled out, further testing is done to try to understand where the disease is coming from, Lewis said. "There's a lot of different options and a lot of different testing that goes on," Lewis said. In New Jersey, blue jays have been the species most affected, but Lewis has also seen grackles, starlings, robins and one cardinal that have died from the disease. Don Torino, president of the Bergen County Audubon Society, has been concerned with these mysterious deaths. "Birds are in trouble as it is," Torino said. "It's scary." Torino grew up in the Meadowlands and fell in love with wildlife at a young age. He said this disease is another concern for birds that already face significant dangers, particularly climate change and loss of habitat. Torino has not found any birds that have died from the disease, but has been constantly seeking updates from scientists and officials. "This is hopefully something we can get a handle on pretty quickly," Torino said. But Lewis said it's a laborious process, involving a lot of trial and error to try to figure out what the underlying causes may be. Lewis has been working with experts from other states that have had birds die from the disease to determine what the disease is and how it spreads. One possibility that has been bandied about is a connection between the disease and the Brood X cicadas, since they emerged at about the same time and place. "We have been discussing that," Lewis said. "It is certainly on the table as a possibility, but we have not ruled that in or out. That's a bit of a challenge." Lewis added that the areas that have the heaviest bird deaths have been those with a large cicada presence. According to Lewis, there has been information circulating about a fungus that the cicadas may have. But with so many uncertainties, it's difficult to label anything a direct cause. Cicadas:Our food editor ate cicadas. Here's her report  Birds:Elderly birds of prey get a fancy new home in Tenafly  One way the disease could potentially spread is at congregational spaces for birds, such as feeders. "It is very possible that the adults are feeding at feeders or in a local spot where they congregate and then going back to feed their young and giving it to them," Lewis said. "That's a possibility, but we don't know as of yet." What to do if you find a dead bird  Lewis said if you have a bird feeder and notice any dead birds, take it down and clean it out with 10% bleach solution. Lewis has also been requesting that people who find dead, young birds email her at Nicole.Lewis@dep.nj.gov, and let her know. "I've been getting a lot of emails alerting me, and it's extremely helpful," Lewis said. Lewis has been collecting birds from all over the state, driving to get them. So if you find a dead or sick fledgling, and she thinks it's worth collecting, you may be getting a visit from a wildlife veterinarian. Liam Quinn is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter. Email: quinnl@northjersey.com  Twitter: @Liam_D_Quinn