By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – State Health Officer Don Williamson says neither avian influenza nor West Nile virus killed seven birds that were found dead in Montgomery last weekend. However, he says lab tests to determine exactly what killed the birds won't be completed until later in the week. Five doves, a cardinal and a blue jay died. A man in Crenshaw County has also reported finding three dead doves on his property. But Williamson says something else must have killed the birds because it's clearly not West Nile or avian influenza. He says doves are the wrong species to have avian flu or West Nile, but he says the birds will be tested for both, just in case.