Often, when we look at nature, we assume that everything in a critter’s life is smooth and easy – no major challenges, risks, or health issues. Just a clean, natural way of life, devoid of the health and stressors we humans experience. Once again, I think we may miss the mark with such assumptions. I reflected on this recently while editing images from my photo tour in New Mexico.
On a cold, sunny morning, we spotted a greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) actively hunting along a small stream. It would run a short distance, stop, and cock its head to look for prey. These birds often hunt small reptiles, such as lizards, but it was too cold for any lizards to be running around.
I got our small group of photographers to move closer to the roadrunner. As we approached, we were able to capture some decent images of the adult bird, but I quickly noticed something was off. Its upper bill was too long, curved, and starting to hook downward, while its lower bill appeared normal. This roadrunner most likely had avian keratin disorder (AKD), a disease that causes the beak to overgrow and deform.
A roadrunner uses its speed to overtake prey such as snakes, lizards, and larger insects. Once it catches its prey, the bird needs to grab it with its long, pointed beak. But, if the top and bottom of the bird’s bill don’t align, grabbing and holding prey becomes nearly impossible.
AKD was first documented in southern Alaska in the late 1990s in black-capped chickadees. Since then, it has been observed across the United States. The unchecked growth of the bill is caused by a virus in the Picornaviridae family. AKD is a debilitating and often deadly disease for birds that contract it. The overgrown bill makes it difficult for birds to obtain food and prevents them from preening and maintaining proper feather care.
A bird’s beak is primarily made of bone, with the upper and lower jawbones modified to project outward, forming the base of the bill. The outer portion of the bill is covered by a sheath of keratin, the same protein that makes up human hair and fingernails. Like hair and nails, a bird’s bill grows continuously, starting at the base and extending toward the tip. Although a bird’s bill grows slowly, it must be worn down or filed naturally to prevent overgrowth. Everyday activities in a healthy bird’s life help keep the bill’s growth in check.
Don’t get me wrong, other factors can cause beak deformities in birds. It is thought that environmental contaminants, such as toxic chemicals, as well as nutritional deficiencies, trauma to the bill, or genetics, can all lead to bill deformity. I am talking about AKD, a disease first reported in the 1990s. In 2016, the virus believed to cause this infection was identified. Since this is considered a “newly” identified virus, studies are still underway, and much remains to be learned.
How the virus spreads from bird to bird is still not fully understood. At least 30 bird species are known to be affected by AKD. Currently, it is unclear whether a bird can recover from AKD, though it is generally assumed they cannot, leading to a poor prognosis. What is known is that birds with beak deformities, regardless of the cause, have a significantly higher mortality rate.
Having AKD makes it difficult for birds to eat, leading to a decrease in caloric intake and resulting in weakened health. Additionally, the deformed beak prevents the bird from preening and cleaning its feathers, leaving them less effective at keeping the bird warm and dry. This further contributes to the bird’s weakness, creating a downward spiral.
One thing is certain: a bird’s life isn’t smooth, easy, or tranquil. Every day brings survival challenges – finding food while avoiding becoming food for another creature. I guess the bottom line is that nothing is easy in a bird’s life. Until next time …
Editor’s note: Stan Tekiela’s NatureSmart column appears twice a month in the Eden Prairie Local News. Tekiela is an author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer who travels extensively across the United States to study and capture wildlife images.
You can follow his work on Instagram and Facebook. He can be contacted via his website at www.naturesmart.com.
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