TOP STORIES
Thurmond Lake toxin again threatens eagles: Experts try to halt outbreak at lake [Avian vacuolar myelinopathy]
A bird-killing neurotoxin linked to the aquatic weed hydrilla re-appeared this fall at Thurmond Lake, where at least one dead eagle has been recovered in Lincoln County.
“We have been doing some preliminary eagle and waterfowl survey work and have seen fairly high numbers of both,” said Ken Boyd, a conservation biologist with the Army Corps of Engineers.
... University of Georgia scientists studying the disease visited the lake recently to observe bird activity and test captured birds for AVM.
“We have recovered a number of sick coots during this period, and there are thousands in the area all feeding on hydrilla,” Boyd said. “Unfortunately, with the low lake levels, more hydrilla is exposed and available.”
The first confirmed eagle death this season occurred the day before Thanksgiving. A Georgia Wildlife Resources Division official found the dead bird near Cherokee Boat Ramp.
The possible remains of a second dead eagle, a pile of feathers, were found earlier this month at Bussey Point, where a number of dead or dying eagles have been recovered in past years.
28 Dec 2011
R Pavey
Photo courtesy of The Augusta Chronicle
Location: Lincoln County, Georgia, USA - Map It
Red tide causes fish kill in Lee County
Dead fish are washing up on Bunche Beach because of red tide. The latest water samples from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show there is a large patch of red tide just south of Sanibel Island.
"There's a lot of dead fish. It's really nasty. [There are] eels, horseshoe crabs, it's sick," said Skippy Svitil of the Sanibel Sea School.
...The bloom has also changed, from one large 30 mile long patch, to millions of smaller ones from southern Lee County south to Key West.
Recently Added Postings to the Digest's Professional Announcements PageUN of Florida - Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health Online Course
Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health is an online course that provides an overview of aquatic resources including oceans, estuaries, rivers, lakes, streams and ponds, with focus on respective biotic communities and environmental health. [Registration deadline is Jan 06, 2012.] Registration information can be found HERE.
American Bird Conservancy Lead Campaign Manager [Job Position]
American Bird Conservancy (ABC), an international bird conservation organization, is seeking a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader to manage the ABC 'Get the Lead Out' Campaign in its office in Washington, DC. Application information can be found HERE.
For more announcements visit the Professional Announcements page located at the top of the Digest website. As shown in the image above, the page link is highlighted with a red box.
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Photo courtesy of The Guardian feature 'The Week in Wildlife'
- FWP approves bison relocation to 2 reservations [brucellosis concerns]
- Province Takes Steps To Control Spread Of Fish Disease [Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia] [Canada]
- Sea cucumbers: Dissolving coral reefs? [Cited article HERE]
Huh?! That's Intersting!
How Beavers Helped to Build America
