Anonymous wrote:It does concern me, which is why I have a clover and violet lawn, bird and bee friendly gardens, bird houses, etc. I also raised bees for a while but they died due to one of the invasive species that ruins their hives (small hive beetle). And I use cleaning strength vinegar for weed killer, never round up.

(slow clap)
Love this.

Try mason bees instead of honey bees. No hive necessary and they're native. Lots of FB groups online re: keeping them properly. Also the book Mason Bee Revolution.

It does concern me, which is why I have a clover and violet lawn, bird and bee friendly gardens, bird houses, etc. I also raised bees for a while but they died due to one of the invasive species that ruins their hives (small hive beetle). And I use cleaning strength vinegar for weed killer, never round up.

It’s almost assuredly related to pesticides and ag inputs, coupled with dwindling habitat and no food. It’s a smaller population with less resilience and people just keep spraying their lawns and fields.

If this concerns you, get active.

Anonymous wrote:Is there any news on this? I haven't heard anything about it for a while. Looks like the previous testing ruled out most infectious agents.

https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/2021/07/06/birds-with-mysterious-avian-disease-found-in-14-northern-virginia-localities/

I am wondering if it was related to the cicadas.

I also thought cicadas. But that doesn't explain why it's been happening in areas that didn't get them.

I would think it is pesticides in general (people spraying). Cicadas may have exacerbated it in this region. I'd think they'd be able to say if it's viral by now?

Is there any news on this? I haven't heard anything about it for a while. Looks like the previous testing ruled out most infectious agents.

https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/2021/07/06/birds-with-mysterious-avian-disease-found-in-14-northern-virginia-localities/

I am wondering if it was related to the cicadas.

It could be disease but a lot of now-dead birds are also simply eating insects (and feeding them to their babies) that have been sprayed with insecticides.


If you want birds, don't poison their food supply.

There’s also going to be a boom-bust cycle later this summer. Many birds will have a second clutch of babies bc of the cicadas and those will starve later.

Covid has infected birds.

That is why I dispose of old bird food, use a platform feeder and do not put too many seeds out at once, and clean bird feeders, change suet, and clean bird bath's with dawn soap and a scrub brush and try and keep the water as fresh as I can. I absolutely LOVE birds and want the best for my feathered friends. But, I know a lot of people have started birding and feeding birds during the pandemic and a PSA is needed to educate them on how to keep birds healthy and alive.