Gulls across Weymouth and Portland found dead from disease

31st August

By Alex Cutler Reporter

AT LEAST 60 herring gulls have been reported dead across Weymouth and Portland following a disease outbreak.

It is understood that the birds have most likely been dying due to a suspected outbreak of avian botulism.

According to the government's Animal and Plant Health Agency, avian botulism is a paralytic and often fatal disease caused by ingestion of toxin produced by bacteria found in rotting plant and animal material.

These outbreaks are frequent in this country but are more common during hot weather and can last for weeks, resulting in several hundreds of bird deaths.

Many of the dead gulls have been found in the swannery at Radipole Lake, near to the The Gurkha restaurant in Weymouth, where there is a build up of green algae – a possible source of the outbreak.

Algae blooms are said to occur naturally in hot weather and the swannery has been affected in previous years.

Bimlashar Gurung, manager of The Gurkha restaurant, said it is starting to affect her business: "Everyone is saying it is our fault but there is nothing we can do.

"I clean up the litter and all the rubbish that everyone leaves, sometimes when our bin is full I take it home myself, but we have been told that we are not allowed to touch the dead birds.

Read more

Dozens of dead crows found in Portland parks

ODFW will conduct necropsies, Audobon Society helping to investigate

By Ken Boddie and KOIN 6 News StaffPublished: November 26, 2014, 11:45 am Updated: November 26, 2014, 4:59 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — About 30 dead crows were found along the Willamette River waterfront and some Portland parks, and officials don’t have any idea at this time what caused their deaths.

Several crows were seen suffering seizures and flopping on the ground at Waterfront Park, police said, and several dead crows were seen nearby. Other dead crows were found around Chapman and Lownsdale Square parks and the Lovejoy Fountain.

PPB Sgt. Roger Axtelm said the bureau “had a number of phone calls from citizens calling about the blackbirds that were down and apparently ill. Some were deceased.”

A few of the birds were alive but in bad shape. Bob Sallinger with the Portland Audobon Society said the ones still alive “were convulsing.”

Continued ...

Thousands of birds feared dead after outbreak in N. Portland lakes

PORTLAND, Ore. - Several thousand ducks and geese may have already died on two North Portland lakes operated by Metro after the waters became infected with deadly bacteria.

It's happening on Smith and Bybee lakes near Portland International Raceway just off Marine Drive.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife and Metro crews were out on kayaks and canoes Friday looking for dead birds, attempting to stop the outbreak before more birds die.

"We want to make sure we are doing everything we can for the birds that are healthy out here," said Metro Natural Areas Land Manager Don Moeller.

A disease known as avian botulism has already killed at least 2,000 birds, mostly young green teals.

The state's wildlife veterinarian said several thousand may have already died.

Collecting the birds is an essential part of staving off more massive losses of waterfowl, according to Metro.

"Because the maggots that end up on the dead carcasses and can be consumed by other birds and that's how the botulism spreads from one bird to another. And as you can imagine, then it can spread very quickly," said Moeller.

Continued and video:  http://www.katu.com/news/local/Thousands-of-birds-feared-dead-after-outbreak-in-N-Portland-lakes-170798166.html