(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The mass emergence of periodical cicadas has meant a feast for birds but has also led to some health problems in their young offspring.
About three weeks ago, staff at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in west suburban Glen Ellyn started seeing various problems in fledgling songbirds such as blue jays, grackles, house sparrows and starlings.
Head veterinarian Dr. Sarah Reich said people have brought in birds that are weeks old with eyes that are swollen and crusty, and also have trouble breathing and standing up straight.
“Some of them are in respiratory distress, so they're open mouth breathing, they're heavily breathing. Or they're showing some neurologic signs, so falling over.”
This reminded staff of a mysterious disease that surfaced in 2021 in states experiencing cicada emergencies.
An email to Willowbrook from researchers at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin arrived two days after the first suspicious case and helped confirm the source of the disease was vitamin A deficiency.
“Cicadas were almost completely devoid of vitamin A, except for in their eyes. And most animals are not eating their eyes, they're eating their inner,” Dr. Reich said.
Most of the more than 45 birds they’ve seen have been too sick to treat, but she says some have shown promising recovery after getting vitamin A therapy.
A drop off in the number of cicadas should prelude a decline in the disease, but Dr. Reich anticipates they will see more sick young birds in the coming weeks - especially because they have been fed a diet almost exclusively of cicadas.
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