Pelicans fall out of sky from Mexico to Ore, page 1

Pelicans fall out of sky from Mexico to Ore

seattletimes.nwsource.com

Pelicans suffering from a mysterious malady are crashing into cars and boats, wandering along roadways and turning up dead by the hundreds across the West Coast, from southern Oregon to Baja California, Mexico, bird-rescue workers say.

Weak, disoriented birds are huddling in people's yards or being struck by cars. More than 100 have been rescued along the California coast, according to the International Bird Rescue Research Center in San Pedro.

Hundreds of birds, disoriented or dead, have been observed across the West Coast.

"One pelican actually hit a car in Los Angeles," said Rebecca Dmytryk of Wildrescue, a bird-rescue operation. "One pelican hit a boat in Monterey."

While some of the symptoms resemble those associated with domoic-acid poisoning — an ocean toxin that sometimes affects sea birds and mammals — other symptoms do not. Domoic acid also apparently has not been found in significant amounts offshore, although more tests are needed.

(visit the link for the full news article)

What in the world? It seems like every 3 or 4 years we see news of a massive pelican doe off or major illness affecting primarily pelicans. One has to wonder how such a creature has survived this long if they are so prone to maladies.

Seriously though, what would cause this over such a wide area? You'd think if it was a simple toxin, other birds or fish would be observed suffering as well. Could this be an early sign of something further reaching on the horizon? Bird flu? Chemical poisons in the Pacific? Sensitivity to magnetic field changes? Sensitivity to radio frequencies? The possibillities are really endless and this is certainly worth keeping updated on.

seattletimes.nwsource.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by burdman30ott6

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Aren't pelicans kind of like the goats of the sea birds? They eat almost anything and fish dead or alive and rotting is normal. Its probably something they dumped into the sea in Mexico though. They dump toxins with no regard for safety!

Zindo

Hmmm. I live in Oregon and I haven't heard anything about it. I will look into it.
and yes, goats of the sea would be a good description. I once walked right up to one who seemed sick. He wasn't scared and didn't back away at all. I think I was more scared of it, and that beak is frickin huge...
This was about 3 years ago I think.
Brown Pelicans

Domoic acid, a neurotoxin, is produced by microscopic algae. Birds and sea mammals ingest the acid by eating fish and shellfish that consume the algae. Birds poisoned by domoic acid generally experience seizures, but the pelicans admitted to the rescue centers did not suffer seizures, Holcomb said. Rescuers have sent pelican blood samples and carcasses to state and federal wildlife authorities and laboratories that specialize in detecting potentially fatal algae toxins. Holcomb said test results are expected in about a week.

Oregonlive

[edit on 7-1-2009 by seagrass]

reply to post by burdman30ott6

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I searched and the last pelican die off (that I found) was 2004 and involved young birds and starvation. Pelican die offs are relatively common and natural. There are apparently about 15,000 pelicans on the west coast. A few hundred deaths is unfortunate but not that uncommon.

The autopsy and histopath, bacteriology,virology, and toxicology report will be important.

Linky:
Cause of pelican die-off deemed natural



[edit on 7/1/09 by plumranch]

reply to post by plumranch

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Somehow hundreds of confused birds with swollen feet doesn't seem "natural".

You'd think if it was a simple toxin, other birds or fish would be observed suffering as well. Could this be an early sign of something further reaching on the horizon? Bird flu? Chemical poisons in the Pacific? Sensitivity to magnetic field changes? Sensitivity to radio frequencies?

I think Burdman's questions are excellent.

reply to post by kosmicjack

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Bird flu? Chemical poisons in the Pacific? Sensitivity to magnetic field changes? Sensitivity to radio frequencies?

I think like a veterinarian because I am a veterinarian. So I wouldn't think first of the above threats, I would think of perhaps frostbite causing the swollen feet and thereby causing a lameness that prevents the bird from feeding leading to weakness and confusion. That's just an opinion. I would wait for the labwork to come back before making any decision.

You mentioned Bird Flu. Do you know how many cases of that we had come over from China??? Zero. Do you know how many billions of dollars were spent on this disease worldwide? Several. Was it blown out of all proportions by World Health Organization? IMHO greatly! Go figure.

Originally posted by burdman30ott6


What in the world? It seems like every 3 or 4 years we see news of a massive pelican doe off or major illness affecting primarily pelicans. One has to wonder how such a creature has survived this long if they are so prone to maladies.

I would think the same could be said of humans. Perhaps, as with humans, it is only our numbers which keep us from the extinction of maladies.

Seriously though, what would cause this over such a wide area? You'd think if it was a simple toxin, other birds or fish would be observed suffering as well. Could this be an early sign of something further reaching on the horizon? Bird flu? Chemical poisons in the Pacific? Sensitivity to magnetic field changes? Sensitivity to radio frequencies? The possibillities are really endless and this is certainly worth keeping updated on.

seattletimes.nwsource.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Thanks for the post...

Definitely lots of questions to be answered

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