May 02, 2006
IMBD and Avian Flu
Nest Update: Thanks to everyone who sent in their photos for our latest Gallery update. We had a few interesting shots including one that was a bit mysterious.
In an early morning photo on April 29, we saw the male in a mating position on our female. The couple have not mated since the eggs were all laid, but suddenly the male was in position. We have to wonder if this was our male or a vagrant male that happened upon the cam platform. The female did not look alarmed at his presence, but she was also clearly not receptive to his advances since the egg laying is complete. A bit of a mystery that we'll watch for again.
We also saw a couple of funny changeover shots involving the two dutiful parents. When one parent is on the eggs and the other parent wants to take over, the best way to communicate this seems to be for the waiting parent to stand as close as possible to the sitting parent -- sometimes practically on top of them -- until they get off the eggs. Maybe the sitting parent is just too comfortable to move.
Speaking of the parents, one of our cam watchers asked about the parents' brood patch. The brood patch is a bare area on the bird's stomach where hot blood is close to the surface of the skin and extra heat is generated. Both the osprey parents have a brood patch, although the female's is larger. To illustrate, check out this photo of a robin's brood patch. The bird can use its skin muscles to open the feathers and expose the patch, which they press against the eggs. Birders are always saddened to find a dead bird with a brood patch because it means the adult had eggs or chicks nearby.
IMBD and Avian Flu
As we've mentioned in previous postings, our osprey population at Blackwater Refuge migrates south in the fall to spend the winter in Central or South America. In order to educate folks about the special needs of migratory birds, May 13, 2006 has been designated International Migratory Bird Day -- an annual event that we celebrate here in America.
At Blackwater Refuge we will be marking the event with a bird walk led by expert birder Terry Allen; the walk will start at 8:00 am and leave from our Visitor Center. Also, at 1:00 pm our Fire Control Officer, Bill Giese, will give a program called "Blackwater NWR - The First 30 Years." The presentation provides an overview of the area's history and natural resources which led to the establishment of Blackwater NWR. You can read more about these events on our Calendar page.
As my own way of recognizing International Migratory Bird Day, I wanted to pass along some useful information about avian or bird flu. As we all know, the bird virus H5N1 has been making its way around many parts of the world. At this stage, it has not reached North America, but many experts think that it eventually will.
The United States government has been taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, such as preventing the importation of poultry from countries where the H5N1 virus has been found. In addition, the government has been preparing for possible transmission by migratory bird populations. Government experts say they do not know what role migrating birds could play in the spread of the virus, but they have to assume that wild birds could bring the virus to North America.
Because Alaska is at the crossroads of bird migration flyways, scientists think that the H5N1 virus would most likely arrive there if it spread to North America via migratory birds. Government experts believe that one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is early warning detection, so in 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its cooperators plan to collect between 75,000 to 100,000 samples from live and dead wild birds.
The testing of wild birds has, in fact, been going on for some time. The National Wildlife Health Center reports, "Since 1998, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has tested over 12,000 migratory birds in the Alaska flyway and since 2000, USDA has tested almost 4,000 migratory birds in the Atlantic flyway [where Blackwater Refuge is located]. All birds in these flyways have tested negative for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus of concern. Since the summer of 2005, the Department of Interior (DOI) has been working with the State of Alaska to strategically sample migratory birds in the Pacific flyway. DOI has already carried out more than 1,700 tests on samples from more than 1,100 migratory birds. There have been 22 avian influenza isolates identified, but none have been highly pathogenic."
So what does this mean for North American citizens -- especially those who feed birds, monitor nest boxes, or enjoy bird watching outdoors? The Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- a highly respected birding authority -- has published a helpful website that provides information for bird lovers regarding the virus. You can visit their Bird Flu website to find frequently asked questions, advice for bird watchers, and ten important facts you should know about avian flu.
It's important to remember that at this time the H5N1 virus is not easily transmitted from human to human, and the majority of cases of human illness from the H5N1 virus have been related to close contact with diseased poultry or poultry products, rather than wild birds.
The Cornell Lab advises that when dealing with wild birds, you should continue to take the normal precautions: "As always, to avoid contracting any illness from wild birds, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap or hand sanitizer after handling bird feeders, bird nests, birdbaths, or water contaminated by bird droppings. Avoid touching bird droppings or dead birds. If you must move a dead bird, use disposable gloves or double plastic bags."
If you would like more detailed scientific information, you can also visit the Avian Influenza sections of the National Wildlife Health Center website, and also the Centers for Disease Control website.
Until next time,
Lisa - webmaster
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