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> June 19, 2007 > > FWC SEARCHES FOR CAUSE OF EAST COAST SEABIRD DIE-OFF > > By Wendy Quigley > > 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. > > Contact: Wendy Quigley, (727) 896-8626 >
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