By Dr. Scott Ford
Cover photo by Rich Van Buskirk
Citation: Varland D, Ford S, Johnson G, Hamer T. Monitoring the Health of Avian Scavengers on the Pacific Coast – 2012 Report. Report to the USFWS, 2012. 57pp.
Summary: In 2012 I worked with Dan Varland of the nonprofit organization, Coastal Raptors, in the conduct of a broad health assessment of three marine-orientated avian scavenger species: bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), common ravens (Corvus corax), and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura). We captures free-living birds using ballistic net traps, procured samples, applied bands (or wingtags in the case of turkey vultures) and released them. The samples allowed us to check for a variety of specific pathogens as well as conduct a survey of GI flora, parasites, and various blood parameters from apparently healthy individuals. This report includes our results up to that time. In subsequent years, more data was collected and we are currently working on publishing a manuscript that includes the sum of all the data.
Tags: bald_eagle, coastal_raptors, common_raven, disease, marine, raptor, scavenger, turkey_vulture
#bald_eagle #coastal_raptors #common_raven #disease #marine #raptor #scavenger #turkey_vulture
The Raptor Research Foundation is hosting a virtual conference next week. It’s free to members (good excuse to join!) or $20 for non-members. It sounds like they have a good assortment of research presentations as well as techniques seminars. Learn more at https://www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/virtual-event2020/ Here’s the official announcement: RRF is thrilled to invite you to participate […]
With great difficulty, bald eagles were ultimately saved from extinction. Watch this fun & informative video about their conservation story.