AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bird deaths at Lake Pflugerville over the weekend were caused by cold temperatures, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“Purple Martins are insectivores and likely were not getting enough bugs to keep up their metabolic rates in the cold,” TPWD said.
The department said the birds’ symptoms were not consistent with HPAI, and the mortalities were likely due to the cold.
The city of Pflugerville said that if additional Purple Martins are found deceased as temperatures warm, the situation will be reassessed.