News from Fletcher Smith and crew out on the barrier islands is that several
Sooty Shearwaters have been seen over the past week or so, some quite close.
It is somewhat unusual to see Sooties after early/mid-June in Virginia waters.
Also, the following memorandum has been circulated about the widespread
mortality event occurring among seabirds this summer:
..... As of yesterday [5 July], reports of dead birds along
seashores have been reported along the Atlantic Coast from Assateague
Island in MD to south Brevard County FL. Since June 9, an estimated 700
sick or dead birds have been reported on shorelines and/or admitted to
wildlife rehabilitation or veterinary hospitals since mid-June. About 50%
(367) of the birds reported have been reported from FL, primarily Volusia
and Brevard Counties. Of the species reported, greater shearwaters have
been reported the most often (66.6%). A handful of other shearwater
species have also been reported (Sooty (4), Cory's (4) Manx (1)) and
another 109 (15.7%) non-specified shearwaters have also been reported.
Other species reported include: northern gannets, gulls, terns, petrels, a
northern fulmar, a brown booby and a loon. We have received reports that
the numbers of sick/dead birds being found along the shores began to
noticeably decrease last week, so hopefully this is an indication that the
event is on the downhill side of the epidemic curve and the numbers washing
ashore will continue to decrease.
Some of the carcasses have been submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative
Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS), the NWHC and NOAA. On necropsy, the only
common gross finding thus far has been emaciation. Unfortunately, because
these are offshore birds, many birds have already undergone decomposition
by the time they wash ashore and are found, and this has made evaluation of
many of the carcasses and tissues challenging, if not impossible. Many
routine tests including evaluation for bacterial/fungal/viral causes, algal
toxin exposure and other testing as deemed appropriate are underway. At
this time, it is still unknown the cause of this mortality event, and ideas
on other possible causes are being considered while the routine tests are
underway.
Again, I would like to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of all of you
and your colleagues in this investigation. If anyone has any questions or
further updates, please let us know.
Emi Kate Saito, VMD, MSPH
West Nile Virus Coordinator
Wildlife Disease Specialist - Eastern Region, Acting
U.S. Geological Survey
National Wildlife Health Center
6006 Schroeder Road
Madison, WI 53711-6223
office: (608)270-2456
fax: (608)270-2415
email: esaito@xxxxxxxx
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