Southeast Songbirds Dying From Salmonella

Mass deaths of songbirds in the Southeast are attributed to salmonella, but tests show the strain is different from one that has sickened people.

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

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

Kevin Keele, a pathologist at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Georgia, said Friday the illness is widespread but not linked to recalled wild bird feed that contained contaminated peanuts.

Dykes said salmonella bird deaths have also been reported in Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington state.

Wildlife officials said people should avoid direct contact with infected birds to avoid catching salmonella.