There has been an unexplained spike in deaths in Germany's blue tit bird population
The Eurasian blue tit is a small bird native to Europe. It is around 12 cm (4.7 in) long with blue and yellow feathers. A spate of blue tit deaths in Germany, first noted on March 11, prompted NABU to launch the self-report survey.
Particularly hard-hit are blue tits in the lower Mosel wine region and the region around the city of Oldenburg, in Lower Saxony. "At least in these regions there is a noticeable death rate above all among the blue tit population," said NABU on its website.
The disease appears to mainly affect blue tits, but the great tit and other small song birds are sometimes infected.
NABU is not sure what is causing the blue tit deaths. It appears the disease is transmitted where birds congregate - sick birds are often found on the ground near to bird feeders. Some birds appeared to be experiencing breathing difficulties, said NABU.
Some of the characteristics of the disease match a bacterial infection that affected the lungs of tit populations in the UK, said NABU. Since 2018, this bacterial infection has also been found in limited numbers in Germany.
NABU has ruled out other illnesses because this one has appeared at a different time of year and it targets a different bird species. The Usutu virus is prevalent in summer and affects black birds. The West-Nile virus is also only prevalent during mid-summer.
Social distancing measures for birds
NABU is expecting laboratory tests back on April 27 to provide further information on the cause of the disease. In the meantime, the organization advises "social distancing" for birds: people should stop providing feed trays, tables and drinking spots if sick birds are spotted during feeding.
Despite the illness, the Eurasian Blue Tit is classified as a species that is "increasing" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN red List) - the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.
Reader Comments
that put me on the wrong footing: its time to eat insects and lay eggs.
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My father was the president of our E. Central Florida Audubon society when I was growing up. I had the pleasure to know both Allan and Helen Cruickshank.
The first time I wished to kill someone? We were at a bird rescue. There was a beautiful, huge bald eagle, looking at me as I would look at anyone trying to sell me at a slave market.
Why was it there? It turned: One wing was gone. A guy was driving down the road, saw it swoop down on a squirrel. The truck in front of him swerved off the road to kill the eagle which ripped its wing off. First time I wished to kill a human.