West Nile devastating bird population.

Byline: Jeremy Manier

CHICAGO _ West Nile virus has prompted a long-term crash in the population of bluebirds, crows and other bird species that once dominated the suburban landscape, according to a new study that dashes hopes that the disease might cause only a temporary drop.

The study is the first national look at how West Nile has affected a wide range of species since the disease reached the U.S. in 1999. As expected, crows suffered the most, declining by up to 45 percent in some regions. Other studies have shown that the virus kills virtually all crows that contract it.

The virus hurt seven species in all, and of those, only two varieties _ the blue jay and house wren _ had bounced back nationally by 2005. For some species such as the American robin, the number of birds nationwide did not decrease by much, but West Nile seemed to halt what had been an upward trend.

Perhaps most concerning, the study confirms that West Nile is a problem likely to afflict birds and humans for years to…