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Date: June 2
Date: June 2
Box 167 is one of our few chickadee nests! We still make an effort to band them and their chicks, though they can be quite a bit trickier to catch. Their nests are built with moss and fur, as opposed to the tree swallow's usual grass and feathers!
Date: June 7
Date: June 7
Today we caught this box's female, but sadly she has a very contagious virus by the name of AKD (Avian Keratin Disorder) that causes their beaks to continue growing. This inhibits their ability to eat and preen, and often they aren't able to survive.
Cases in birds can be reported here, and they are often sighted at feeders. If you notice birds with beak deformities (as it isn't only limited to chickadees!) it's a very good practice to regularly clean your feeders with 10% bleach to further prevent the spread.
“Beak Deformities in Landbirds Active.” Beak Deformities in Landbirds | U.S. Geological Survey, www.usgs.gov/centers/alaska-science-center/science/beak-deformities-landbirds#:~:text=This%20disease%2C%20called%20avian%20keratin,suffer%20high%20rates%20of%20mortality. Accessed 8 June 2023.
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