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> Hi Andrew; I didn't collect it, but I assume a sick immature/female purple finch died shortly after it was at my feeder about Aug. 1st. near St.Peter's. Billy This message has come from the Atlantic Veterinary College SICK AND > DYING BIRDS IN YOUR YARD please share with bird watching and feeding > community > > Andrew > Nova Scotia Museum > > Over the past two summers, the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health > Centre (CCWHC), Atlantic Region has received numerous reports of sick > and dying birds around bird feeders and water baths in people*s yards > throughout the Maritimes. The primary species affected are purple finch > and American goldfinch, and a microscopic parasite, Trichomonas > gallinae, causes their illness which is known as trichomoniasis > (trichomonosis). This summer has been no different with widespread > mortality of finches occurring throughout the region around people*s > homes. The CCWHC is interested in tracking this emerging disease > problem to better understand its impact on wild bird populations and > would like to examine as many of the dead birds as possible. The CCWHC > cannot advise or encourage members of the general public to handle dead > birds. However, if an interested individual was inclined to collect a > specimen, the following procedure should be practiced: > 1. Place a plastic bag over hand and pick up the dead bird with > hand covered by the plastic bag. > 2. Invert the plastic bag over the bird and tie the top of the > plastic bag. > 3. Wash hands well with warm water and soap. > 4. Deliver the dead bird in the bag to the local Department of > Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife or Canadian Wildlife Service office > where it will be frozen and held for pick up at a later date. > Biologists, conservation officers and wildlife technicians have busy > schedules and limited freezer space so it is up to their discretion to > facilitate a request to hold a dead bird for submission. Therefore, in > Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), it is advisable to call > the office prior to handling a dead bird to obtain their consent to > cooperate. All submitted samples should have the following information > included with them: > 1. Submitter*s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address > (if available). > 2. Location where dead bird was found. > 3. Date dead bird was found. > 4. Number of dead or sick birds observed. > Unfortunately, at this time, New Brunswick (NB) Department of Natural > Resources is unable to participate in this targeted surveillance > program. As a result, we would appreciate you recording any mortality > that might occur in NB by completing a Garden Bird Health Survey found > on the CCWHC, Atlantic Region website (http://atlantic.ccwhc.ca/). > > At a date later in the Fall 2009, the CCWHC will pick up the birds that > have been submitted in NS and PEI and examine them. Subsequently, a > full diagnostic report will be sent to the person who submitted the > bird(s) as well as the agency that held the specimen(s). This work > would not be possible without public participation and the involvement > of provincial and federal wildlife agencies so the CCWHC greatly > appreciates your assistance. If you require any further information > about this project or have any questions, please do not hesitate to > contact us directly at 902-628-4314 or e-mail Drs. Scott McBurney > (smcburney@upei.ca) or Maria Forzan (mforzan@upei.ca > > >
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