Hello Chatters.
We have some experience with Avian Botulism here.
Like food poisoning, it can re-occurr. If the bird has injested
enough toxin it will become paralysed. Water birds become unable to
hold their heads on their backs and so the head repeatedly falls into
the water, causing drowning.
If an affected bird can be caught and kept quiet and warm, it may
recover. As said before, if too much toxin is taken in, the bird will die.
Some Common Loons and other water birds manage to struggle ashore and
avoid drowning but may still become cold, paralysed and stop breathing.
What I try to do is catch the affected bird, dry it and keep it safe
and warm overnight. If it is improving and can hold up its head
normally, then it may be ready for release.
While the Avian Toxin is killed by heating, remember to wash your
hands each time that you touch the bird.
If my memory is correct the Botulism toxin that affects us is the
most deadly natural poison of all. Something like 0.0000001 parts of
a gram can have dreadful effects on a human.
In the early 'seventies, that is nineteen, not eighteen-- I counted
22,000 Common Loons migrating past Kettle Point on Lake Huron in the
Fall. Following the death of 10,000 loons from Botulism here
several years ago, I count more RED-THROATED LOONS here now than
Commons and as always, there are still the occasional ARCTIC/PACIFIC
individuals to make things interesting.
I hope that this note might be helpful.
Good Birding.
Alf.
Alf Rider.
Forest. Ont.
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