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FWC searches for cause of east coast
seabird die-off
June 19, 2007
Contact: Wendy Quigley (727) 896-8626
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) has received reports of more than 200 dead or
sick greater shearwaters, a gull-like bird, since Saturday along
Florida’s east coast. The birds have been found from Hobe Sound
in Martin County to South Ponte Vedra Beach in St. Johns County.
Local wildlife rehabilitators report receiving
numerous emaciated and dehydrated birds as well. FWC biologists
are examining the dead birds to investigate the cause of this
die-off.
Researchers with FWC’s Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute are calling the die-off of birds significant
and have collected some of the birds for testing. Initial
necropsy results are not definitive; however, preliminary
findings indicate starvation during the migration process played
a role. Additional test results are pending.
"As only one species appears to be affected and
the sick and dead birds have similar symptoms, we believe the
seabirds are suffering from the same ailment,” said Dan Wolf,
research biologist. "In 2005, a similar, but less severe
shearwater die-off occurred.”
According to the Peterson Field Guide for
Eastern Birds, shearwaters spend their lives at sea, well
offshore in the open ocean except for when they breed, nest and
rear young. Greater shearwaters breed primarily on Tristan da
Cunha Island in the South Atlantic and wander the sea north to
Greenland and Iceland, and back. Storms at sea can weaken the
birds and cause them to become sick, dehydrated and die.
The public can assist the investigation by
reporting sick, injured or dead birds online at
MyFWC.com/bird. The
public is asked not to handle birds and to contact a local
wildlife rehabilitative facility for assistance with sick or
injured birds. The online wild bird mortality database is a
cooperative program between FWC and the Florida Department of
Health to monitor bird health.
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