"While humans and other animals continue to grapple with COVID-19, a new epidemic seems to have hit multiple bird species in North America.
Across the United States, people have been finding dead birds. The birds appear to have been hit by a wave of mysterious illnesses since April.Ornithologists (bird experts) say the dead or ailing aviators tend to have swollen eyes as well as neurological issues that seem to be causing the birds to lose balance.
They now think that multiple bird species have been contracting an odd illness for about two months. And the illness has spread at least 965 kilometers (600 miles) from the capital, across the Midwest regions of the United States and into the state of Indiana.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) published a report on the mysterious bird deaths in early June. Details remain hazy, but experts are trying to trace the epidemic back to its origins.
"We are losing our population of birds at an alarming rate," says Monsma, including Fledglings, European Starlings, Bluejays and others.
"About a third of the species in America are decreasing rapidly. It's spreading to other species," he says. "And we certainly cannot rule out the possibility that it might spread to humans." DW