Dying duck.... -01
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hen at Teal Pond, Thomson Marsh, Kelowna, BC. The day before I saw her limping badly. On this day she could not stand and seemed to have lost all energy. Occasionally she displayed spastic convulsions. She is pretty much left alone by the other Mallards that frequent this pond. I expect tomorrow that she will have expired.
As with the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) that I observed dying and dead at Munson Pond late last summer, I have no facts about the causes of the demise of these two birds. I AM CERTAINLY NOT SAYING THAT THE DEATHS ARE CONNECTED TO BIRD FLU. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW....
I feel sad....
This is an appropriate time to mention that in the past month and going back to the dying goose in the late summer at Munson Pond, I've been thinking about pandemics in the birds' world — avian flu and other diseases.
Did some checking, and here's a small sampling of what I found.
First from the USGS, 221016:
www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveil...
" The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
Investigating Avian Influenza in U.S. Wildlife
In addition to investigating wildlife mortality events since our founding in the 1970s, the NWHC conducts research to better understand processes and environmental factors that influence spread, distribution, and transmission of HPAI in wild birds and poultry. Surveillance activities conducted by NWHC, in support of national HPAI surveillance objectives, provide critical information regarding avian influenza strains currently circulating in the U.S. and enhance our understanding of disease impacts on wild birds. Wild bird surveillance also provides early warning for the agricultural sector and helps inform the need for increased biosecurity at poultry facilities.
Avian influenza among wild waterfowl is a concern among resource managers and owners of domestic fowl. Between 2016 and 2021, the NWHC tested over 3,400 wild-bird carcasses and over 12,400 swab samples from healthy wild birds for the presence of avian influenza viruses. While HPAI was not detected in any of these samples, over 2,600 low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses were identified and characterized, providing critical information to wildlife and agricultural officials regarding the spatial distribution and strains of avian influenza viruses circulating in our nation’s wildlife.
HPAI Surveillance Update 2021- 22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015.HPAI Surveillance Update 2021- 22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015."
See the updated map for N. America published by USGS in November 2022 here: www.flickr.com/photos/8666250@N02/52728134324/in/datepost...
Dying duck.... -01
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hen at Teal Pond, Thomson Marsh, Kelowna, BC. The day before I saw her limping badly. On this day she could not stand and seemed to have lost all energy. Occasionally she displayed spastic convulsions. She is pretty much left alone by the other Mallards that frequent this pond. I expect tomorrow that she will have expired.
As with the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) that I observed dying and dead at Munson Pond late last summer, I have no facts about the causes of the demise of these two birds. I AM CERTAINLY NOT SAYING THAT THE DEATHS ARE CONNECTED TO BIRD FLU. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW....
I feel sad....
This is an appropriate time to mention that in the past month and going back to the dying goose in the late summer at Munson Pond, I've been thinking about pandemics in the birds' world — avian flu and other diseases.
Did some checking, and here's a small sampling of what I found.
First from the USGS, 221016:
www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveil...
" The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducts surveillance in wild birds to facilitate early detection and situational awareness for high consequence pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses.
Investigating Avian Influenza in U.S. Wildlife
In addition to investigating wildlife mortality events since our founding in the 1970s, the NWHC conducts research to better understand processes and environmental factors that influence spread, distribution, and transmission of HPAI in wild birds and poultry. Surveillance activities conducted by NWHC, in support of national HPAI surveillance objectives, provide critical information regarding avian influenza strains currently circulating in the U.S. and enhance our understanding of disease impacts on wild birds. Wild bird surveillance also provides early warning for the agricultural sector and helps inform the need for increased biosecurity at poultry facilities.
Avian influenza among wild waterfowl is a concern among resource managers and owners of domestic fowl. Between 2016 and 2021, the NWHC tested over 3,400 wild-bird carcasses and over 12,400 swab samples from healthy wild birds for the presence of avian influenza viruses. While HPAI was not detected in any of these samples, over 2,600 low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses were identified and characterized, providing critical information to wildlife and agricultural officials regarding the spatial distribution and strains of avian influenza viruses circulating in our nation’s wildlife.
HPAI Surveillance Update 2021- 22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015.HPAI Surveillance Update 2021- 22
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015."
See the updated map for N. America published by USGS in November 2022 here: www.flickr.com/photos/8666250@N02/52728134324/in/datepost...