Hi all.
I am posting this with permission from the OntBirds Coordinator. There have been reports of dead and dying birds (double-crested cormorants), both along the shoreline of Lake Erie near Essex county, but also on Lake Ontario, near Oshawa. It is likely botulism, but we would like to confirm that. If anyone is in the area, and find sick cormorants or gulls, they can be brought to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) at the University of Guelph. They much prefer live birds, but will take *fresh* dead birds if need be. Their phone number is: 1.866.673.4781 (ONT) or 519.824.4120 Ext. 54662 http://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/ Their email is: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> You can find the submission forms, and packing/shipping instructions here: http://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/docs/CWHC%20Shipping%20and%20Handling%20Instructions.pdf if you are bringing animals to them. You must contact them beforehand to let them know! They can also give you instructions on exactly where to bring the birds. Of course, if any colonial waterbirds are being found sick, moribund, or dead elsewhere on the Great Lakes, they are also interested. Note botulism is not transferable to humans. You should wear gloves and clean your footwear afterwards. Dead birds can be double bagged (with keeping the outer bag from touch the dead bird), and live birds can be placed in a cardboard box or similar container that gives them access to air, and keep them relatively cool. The description I have heard so far: "Hi Shane, In regards to the cormorants they are dying all along our lake erie shoreline essex county perhaps in the low hundreds. I have observed only 5 or 6 near me but I have heard others seeing the same thing throughout the shoreline areas. Sometimes found many kilometers inland. I have not noticed any gulls yet. They are walking along roadways, lawns dykes etc. Some fail attempting to roost and get caught in Y branches of trees and basically hang themselves. " Cheers, Shane _____________________________________________ Shane de Solla Ecotoxicologist Wildlife Toxicology Research Section | Recherche en toxicologie de la faune Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division | Division de l'écotoxicologie et de la santé de la faune Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate | Direction des sciences de la faune et du paysage Science and Technology Branch | Direction générale des sciences et de la technologie Environment and Climate Change Canada | Environnement et Changement climatique Canada 867 Lakeshore Road Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Telephone | Téléphone 905-336-4686<tel:905-336-4686> Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada Website | Site Web https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
