News: About Birds

[The Peregrine Chick]

Remove bird feeders to battle spread of deadly parasite, bird society urges
Canadian Press / 17 June 2019



HALIFAX - Nova Scotians are being asked to remove bird feeders and close up bird baths as a fatal disease spread by damp, human-provided seed is killing purple finches.

David Currie, president of the Nova Scotia Bird Society, says the cases of trichomonosis around the province are an annual occurrence, but they seem to have arrived quickly and intensely during a particularly cool and wet spring.

The fatal disease is caused by a tiny parasite being transmitted from bird to bird through moist bird seed, wet areas and in bird baths.

Currie says there have been seven reports of the disease around the province, prompting his group to suggest people follow the advice of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and remove the feeders and bird baths.

The parasite causes inflammation of the bird's glands and windpipes, leading to lethargy and making it difficult for the birds to breath.

Currie said it primarily harms purple finches, which aren't currently endangered, but the fatal illness occasionally spreads into other seed-eating birds.

Source: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/remove-bird-feeders-to-battle-spread-of-deadly-parasite-bird-society-urges-511404362.html

[Alison]

November 2018

More than half of the world's raptor populations are declining

State of the world's raptors: Distributions, threats, and conservation recommendations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320718305871?via%3Dihub

[Alison]

Just wondering if there has been any more news about the strange deaths of crows and merlins in Winnipeg?

[burdi]

Mystery illness striking down crows and merlins in Winnipeg

https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/video/2018/07/21/mystery-illness-striking-down-crows-and-merlins-in-winnipeg/

There's mention of a golden eagle who died from the illness that is killing crows and merlins in this video. And the wildlife centre had been planning to release the eagle in September. This is so sad to hear, but no further information was provided and I’m wondering where and when the eagle was rescued.

TPC, do you happen to know anything more about this golden eagle and have you heard of any other birds affected by this illness?

Nope ‘fraid not.  If I do hear something I will pass it along.

I imagine the golden eagle was just passing through when rescued. Thanks for mentioning you’ll pass along information if you hear something.

[The Peregrine Chick]

Mystery illness striking down crows and merlins in Winnipeg

https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/video/2018/07/21/mystery-illness-striking-down-crows-and-merlins-in-winnipeg/

There's mention of a golden eagle who died from the illness that is killing crows and merlins in this video. And the wildlife centre had been planning to release the eagle in September. This is so sad to hear, but no further information was provided and I’m wondering where and when the eagle was rescued.

TPC, do you happen to know anything more about this golden eagle and have you heard of any other birds affected by this illness?

Nope ‘fraid not.  If I do hear something I will pass it along.

[burdi]

Mystery illness striking down crows and merlins in Winnipeg

https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/video/2018/07/21/mystery-illness-striking-down-crows-and-merlins-in-winnipeg/

There's mention of a golden eagle who died from the illness that is killing crows and merlins in this video. And the wildlife centre had been planning to release the eagle in September. This is so sad to hear, but no further information was provided and I’m wondering where and when the eagle was rescued.

TPC, do you happen to know anything more about this golden eagle and have you heard of any other birds affected by this illness?

[burdi]

The recent news regarding merlins and crows is worrisome and heartbreaking, I find. Thankfully those in the know are trying to find the cause as well as a way to treat the affected birds.   

I’m including a couple more links with further information.

Birds sent for testing after abnormal number of deaths in some species

By Gabrielle Marchand: https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/birds-sent-for-testing-after-abnormal-number-of-deaths-in-some-species-1.4020630

What's Killing The Birds In Southern Manitoba?

By Shannon Dueck: https://steinbachonline.com/local/what-s-killing-the-birds-in-southern-manitoba

[burdi]

'Getting a little strange': Unexplained jump in number of crows, merlins dying in Winnipeg, rehab centre says

Roughly 30 merlins, 50 crows died after coming to Prairie Wildlife rehab centre with odd symptoms this month

CBC News · Posted: Jul 18, 2018

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-crows-merlins-dying-1.4752106

Public awareness notice: PWRC has seen a large number of crows and Merlins coming into the centre and dying. This is not a typical year. If you see young Merlins on the ground or dead, please contact us 204-510-1855 asap as the dead ones are being tested for the cause.

https://www.facebook.com/pwildlife/photos/pb.134920943252207.-2207520000.1531954019./1742277922516493/?type=3&theater

[bcbird]

Thanks for posting this article, Carly.
It was fascinating to learn how nature assures that calcium in the eggshell is not wasted. 
It is used for slowly mineralizing the chick's skeleton and after the hatch the remainder is eaten and so taken back by the mother bird.

[carly]

Scientists solve eggshell mystery of how chicks hatch

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/30/scientists-solve-eggshell-mystery-of-how-chicks-hatch

[burdi]

Not so bird-brained after all: Pigeons understand the abstract concepts of space and time in a similar way to humans

By Harry Pettit For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 19:00 GMT, 4 December 2017 | UPDATED: 19:06 GMT, 4 December 2017

Pigeons are smarter than we thought, according to new research.

The birds judge the abstract concepts of space and time in a similar way to humans, the first time a non-primate species has been shown to do so.

Crucially, pigeons use a different region of the brain to process space and time, suggesting they evolved the ability separately to humans. 

'In the same way we might need to estimate the arrival of our pizza delivery, or figure out if there is enough space for us to park our cars, it might be useful for a pigeon to estimate when it is lunchtime so it can get delicious breadcrumbs, or the size of a potential competitor,' study coauthor Dr Victor Navarro, a psychologist at the University of Iowa, told MailOnline.

The research adds to growing evidence that that lower-order animal species such as birds, reptiles, and fish are capable of high-level, abstract decision-making.

'The cognitive prowess of birds is now deemed to be ever closer to that of both human and nonhuman primates,' said study lead author Professor Edward Wasserman.

'Those avian nervous systems are capable of far greater achievements than the pejorative term "bird brain" would suggest.'

Read the rest here and "watch the full video" of a pigeon in the study

Link to article in Current Biology

[allikat]

This is very frustrating and a tragedy.
I did however, notice there were contact #'s.
So, its time to voice our concerns. 
Be proactive and support our fragile environment.  Call.

[Kinderchick]

This is not good news...  

"Ontario’s Divisional Court has upheld a provincial regulation that exempts major industries from the Endangered Species Act and allows them to kill species at risk and destroy their habitat."

See link below...

http://www.ontarionature.org/media/news_template.php?n_code=740

[Kinderchick]

That is a very interesting article, gemcity.
Thanks for posting the link! 

[GCG]

I read with interest this article online.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/backpack-geolocators-no-apparent-burden-for-migrating-songbirds-1.3063792