Beak deformities in wild birds: unraveling the mystery of avian keratin disorder in Alaska and beyond
AKD is an outbreak of debilitating beak deformities affecting wild birds. First observed among Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska in the early 1990s it now appears to affect a variety of species across a broad geographic area, including North America, South America, and Europe. In this recorded presentation (originally presented on December 8, 2021) USGS Alaska Science Center biologist Danielle Gerik shares recent results of efforts to track AKD across the globe and discuss which species might be most vulnerable. She also provides updates on a newly discovered virus that’s strongly associated with the occurrence of AKD in Black-capped Chickadees in Alaska. If you’ve seen a bird with a strangely overgrown beak in your backyard, or just want to learn more about this mysterious disease, this is a great opportunity to learn more!
Thank you to everyone who joined us and our special guest Danielle Gerik, Biologist with the USGS Alaska Science Center, on December 8, 2021 for this virtual presentation on December 8. It is now available on ASI’s YouTube channel:
Photo by Ken Whitten