Salmonella deaths of songbirds in Southeast high, not unusual

Chattanooga, Tenn. —- Mass deaths of songbirds in the Southeast have been attributed to salmonella, but tests show the strain is different from one that has sickened people.

Calls have been coming in for weeks about large numbers of dead American goldfinches, purple finches and pine siskins, said Scott Dykes, a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency biologist.

Necropsies show the birds died of salmonella, a common disease in the species.

Kevin Keele, a wildlife pathologist at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens, said salmonella is not uncommon in birds. While there has been a more widespread occurrence this year, there is no evidence the deaths are linked to any recalled products, contaminated peanuts or bird feed.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press first reported the salmonella bird deaths in East Tennessee on Friday. Dykes said he was advised by researchers of reports of salmonella-related bird deaths in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington state.

Keele said there have been reports in Georgia and South Carolina.

Dykes said there are typically no outward signs that a bird is sick with salmonella.