Remember when West Nile virus spread across the country?

[NNN0LHI]

It just about wiped out some species of birds around here. Seemed like crows got hit the worst. Don't know why? But I can remember going years without seeing even one crow after the virus swept though this area. Now they seem to be back in just about the same numbers as before the virus. Big healthy looking suckers too.

All the different kinds of birds appear to be back at full strength now. Lot of birds. Some species I never seen before.

Anyone else notice this occur around where they live?

Look at this Blue Heron near my house last year. He/she? was almost as tall as I am. And it was standing in a foot of water.

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Don

[Stuart G]

1. Yes, I recall this clearly. Crows for the most part were non-

existent where I live. A few have returned. I am glad to see some return to normalcy.

[HereSince1628]

2. Yes, here in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Crows are back, Jays not so much

Out at the farm turkeys and sandhill cranes seem to be down, or at least avoiding the place.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. I've been seeing them, too, for the first time in years. (Chicago NW burbs)

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I don't know how badly the bird population was hit around these parts.

The virus was reported and confirmed in our town, but I never noticed any decrease in the bird population around my yard. The only species that I don't see very often anymore is the Mourning Dove, but that's because we've had an explosion in the Collared Dove population. They are so much more aggressive that I believe they have taken over the territory.

[Madam Mossfern]

5. I noticed the same thing

The crows are back, which makes me happy.
I love crows and I missed them terribly.
They do seem to be larger than before, but that can be because I haven't seen them in a while.
No blue jays though. We used to have an abundance of them. It was comical to see them dive-bombing the cats.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

6. Here in Ohio

Crows are back big time. And I also think they look bigger and healthier than what I remember. Don't see many blue jays anymore though, lots of chimney swifts and barn swallows, plus the usual wrens, robins, cardinals and two or three types of woodpeckers. Oh, and have a new addition of tiny birds that look like wild canaries, don't know if that is what they are but they are real cute. And we have hawks and falcon and red tailed hawks and buzzards (think they are chicken buzzards). And lots of wild turkey to be seen. Bird situation looks pretty good around here.

[NNN0LHI]

7. The one I never seen before is kind of similar to a robin but its breast is a pastel blue

Pretty bird. Always seems to be busy on the ground doing something?

Any ideas?

Don

[NEOhiodemocrat]

8. doesn't sound familiar

Is it the size of a robin too?

[NNN0LHI]

9. About the same size and shape. Maybe a little smaller?

And as I mentioned it seems to spend much of its life on the ground in the lawn scratching around or something.

I never seen one before.

I sure like the color though.

Don

[Dappleganger]

10. Birds are everywhere around our creek.

We didn't notice any shifting in population or nesting habits.

[seabeyond]

11. i remember we were all gonna die. and sars was gonna kill us off. and h1n1

would take us all down. a couple before and inbetween i am not remembering.