Date:         Fri, 23 Aug 2002 12:35:25 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         "Daniel F. McDonald" <dangeo@EROLS.COM>
Subject:      Re: West Nile
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I don't know about the National Zoo, but there is a report by (from Mona & Bill
Rutger of "Back To The Wild" on ohio-birds) of a crisis situation with respect
to raptor mortality in Castalia, Ohio.  Rehab centers and zoos statewide have
received unprecedented admissions of Great Horned Owls, Red-tailed Hawks,
Coopers & other raptors presenting with head tremors & leg paralysis.  Most are
dying; a few are recovering.

Most centers have lost Education Birds that die overnight without warning
(including Snowy Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrels &
Gyrfalcons).  West Nile is the prime suspect and has been detected in 2 GH Owls
& a Red-Tail from one center.  I would guess they are too busy dealing with the
birds to have done immunological testing on each animal. Samples have been
collected for analysis.   The Back To The Wild center currently has 18 sick
birds, including 8 GH Owls & 2 Red-tails.

Not a nice situation.

Georgia McDonald
Towson, Balt Co
dangeo@erols.com

Denise Ryan wrote:

> A story on NPR this morning reported that West Nile has infected over 100
> species of birds.  I am terribly frightened of a silent spring next year.
> My resident family of crows with their fledglings "disappeared" earlier this
> summer.
> Has anyone know if there have been any of the Zoo's Yellow-Crowned Night
> Herons found dead from the virus?
>
> Denise Ryan
> Washington, DC
>
> =======================================================================
> To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com
> with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey
> =======================================================================

=======================================================================
To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com
with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey
=======================================================================
=========================================================================