Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Scientists advise ‘social distancing’ for blue tits as mystery illness kills thousands

More than 11,000 cases of sick or dead birds have been reported in Germany

Jack Rathborn
Wednesday 22 April 2020 13:27 EDT
Comments
Thousands of blue tits have died in Germany
Thousands of blue tits have died in Germany (DPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A mystery disease that has killed thousands of blue tits in Germany has seen scientists advise ‘social distancing’ among the garden bird species.

An investigation from conservation groups and scientists is underway after the public reported more than 11,000 cases of sick or dead birds to German conservation group NABU, who initially became aware of the outbreak on 11 March.

The vast majority of cases have come from west Germany, notably in the lower Mosel wine region and around the Lower Saxony city of Oldenburg.

A common visitor to gardens in the UK, the Eurasian blue tit, which measures around 12 cm (4.7 in) in length, enjoys a diet of eat insects, caterpillars, seeds.

A trend in the reports shows the birds, which are distinguished by blue and yellow feathers, have been experiencing breathing problems, as well as no longer accepting food or flinching while being approached by people.

Blue tits in Germany have experienced pneumonia from a bacterial infection
Blue tits in Germany have experienced pneumonia from a bacterial infection (DPA/AFP)

Initial laboratory test results have flagged a bacterial infection [Suttonella ornithocola], which causes pneumonia in tits. It first emerged in Germany in 2018, though it has been prevalent in the UK since the 1990s.

Great tits and other small song birds are only sporadically affected, and while further test results should arrive in the coming days, NABU has advised ‘social distancing’ for the birds.

Guidelines now state the public should stop feeding the birds or providing them with drinking troughs in order to reduce transmission.

Despite the spate of deaths in Germany, Dr Becki Lawson, a disease specialist at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), maintains there is currently no increase in the mortality rate of blue tits or other garden bird species in the UK.

“We are aware of the recent reports of blue tit mortality from Germany and understand investigations are under way to determine the cause,” Dr Lawson is quoted as saying by the Guardian.

“Once a diagnosis is reached, we will be able to comment on whether the condition affecting blue tit populations in Germany is one that we also see in Great Britain.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in