Alright way back in what I think was march I drew a birdman from an engraving from art inspired by Black Death and I never knew what the hell he was. WELL, now I do.

This was a costume worn by amateur doctors during the plague era that depleted the European population during the medieval and renaissance era. The mask took the form of a bird's head because they believed that the plague was caused by the birds. These guys where covered from head to toe in leather and cloaks so the fleas that carried the disease never got to them. With in the beak of the mask the doctors would burn incense to filter the air that they breathed around the diseased and they would also carry a long prodding stick to make sure that the sick stayed a few feet away from them. Lastly, they wore crystal lens glasses over the mask for further protection.
Basically if you saw this guy you where pretty much condemned to death as they never where able to cure the diseased.
I love the stuff they don't teach you in History