West Nile Decimates Suburban Birds

From TIME Magazine:

Populations of seven species have had dramatic declines across the continent since West Nile emerged in the United States in 1999 … In some places, such as Maryland, crow loss was at 45 percent, and around Baltimore and Washington, 90 percent was gone, LaDeau said. … Chickadees, Eastern bluebirds and robins in Maryland were 68 percent, 52 percent, and 32 percent below expected levels in 2005.

		Did anyone else even know that such a severe problem was going on? I mean I've heard about all of the hubbub around West Nile virus attacking kids or something like that, but I had no idea that it was having any other kind effect. I grew up in suburban Maryland and I can't imagine what it'd be like with that many birds gone.<br><br>And with those many birds gone, what kind of side-effects will there be? Like, will there be a huge upsurge in the insect population all around Maryland and D.C.?<br><br>Color me surprised...<br>