Often when we look at nature, I think 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 all the health and stressors that we humans relate to in our lives. Once again, I think we may miss the mark when we make such assumptions. I was thinking about this the other day while editing some images from my recent photo tour in New Mexico.

On one cold and sunny morning, we spotted a Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) which was actively hunting along a small stream. It would run a short distance then stop and cock its head to look around for any 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 up and get closer to the Roadrunner. When we got closer, we were able to capture some decent images of this adult bird but right away I could see something wasn’t right. Its upper bill had grown too long and was curved and starting to hook downward. Its lower bill appeared to be ok. This Roadrunner most likely had Avian Keratin Disorder (AKD) which is 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. But once it catches up to the prey it needs to grab them with its long-pointed beak. But if the top and bottom of the birds’ bill doesn’t match up, it makes grabbing and holding prey nearly impossible.

AKD was first documented in southern Alaska in the late 1990’s in Black-capped Chickadees. Since that time, it has been seen all over the United States. The unchecked growth of the bill is caused by a virus in the Picornaviridae family. AKD is a debilitating and usually deadly disease for the bird that contracts it. The over-grown bill makes it difficult to obtain food and prohibits it from preening and feather care.

A bird’s beak is made up mostly of bone. The upper and lower jawbone are modified to project outwards forming the base of the bill. The outer portion of the bill is covered in a sheath of keratin. This keratin is the same protein material that makes up our hair and fingernails. Just like your hair and nails, a bird’s bill continually grows starting at the base moving towards the tip. A bird’s bill doesn’t grow very fast, but when it does, it needs to be worn or filed down to prevent it from growing too large. Everyday activities in a healthy bird’s life work to keep the bill growth in check.

Don’t get me wrong, there are other factors that can cause beak deformities in birds. It is thought that environmental contaminants such as toxic chemicals, in addition, nutritional deficiencies, trauma to the bill and or genetics can all lead to bill deformity. I am talking about AKD, a disease that was first reported in the 1990’s and in 2016 the virus was identified that is believed to cause this infection. Since this is considered a “newly” identified virus, studies are still underway and there is much to learn.

How the virus is spread from bird to bird is yet to be understood. At least 30 species of birds are known to be affected by AKD. As of now, it is unknown whether a bird can recover from AKD, but it is assumed that they cannot, so the outcome is not good. What is known is that birds with beak deformities, no matter the cause, have a much higher rate of mortality.

Having AKD makes it difficult to eat, thus a decrease in caloric intake. The decrease in food consumption causes the bird to become weaker. In addition, the deformed beak also prevents the bird from preening and cleaning its feathers resulting in feathers that are less effective in keeping them warm and dry, which also increases the weakness, and it just spirals downward.

One thing for sure is that a bird’s life isn’t smooth, easy or tranquil. Every day is a series of challenges of survival. They need to find food and also not become food for another critter. I guess the bottom line is, nothing is easy in a bird’s life. Until next time…

Stan Tekiela is an author / naturalist and wildlife photographer who travels the U.S. to study and capture images of wildlife. He can be followed at www.Instagram.com, www.Facebook.com and www.Twitter.com. He can be contacted via his web page at www.NatureSmart.com.