Beak deformities in wild birds: unraveling the mystery of avian keratin disorder in Alaska and beyond

Alaska Songbird Institute is pleased to host Danielle Gerik, Biologist with the USGS Alaska Science Center, for a virtual presentation about avian keratin disorder (AKD). 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. Danielle will share recent results of our efforts to track AKD across the globe and discuss which species might be most vulnerable. We’ll also provide 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!

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