Data Release: Coordinated efforts toward understanding a mortality event in wild passerines in the eastern United States: Responses, lessons learned and future recommendations

This data set describes post-mortem examination of avian species from a rapid response to a wildlife health event. We reported on the response to a 2021 mortality event in wild passerines in the eastern US. Early ground efforts by wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians, with public participation, fueled rapid responses by government agencies including sample submission and evaluation, information sharing, and coordinated messaging. Extensive diagnostic evaluations failed to reveal a common cause, in part, because thorough epidemiologic investigations were lacking.