Triple E kills rare birds at Virginia Zoo

Posted on August 6, 2014 at 12:21 PM

Updated Wednesday, Aug 6 at 5:20 PM

NORFOLK -- Three 28-day-old cassowary chicks died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis at the Virginia Zooin July, officials said Wednesday. 

Two were found dead on the morning of July 17 and a third died later that afternoon despite intensive medical therapy. One of the parent birds has also died but test results have not been completed to determine a cause, zoo officials said. 

Cassowaries are flightless birds native to the tropical forests of New Guinea, north-eastern Australia and area islands.

The chicks' father, along with a young male and a young female, are still at the zoo and have been vaccinated for the disease, officials told WVEC.com.

"All of the animals that are known to be susceptible to the disease were vaccinated at the beginning of mosquito season," said spokeswoman Meg Puckett. "This includes birds of prey, cranes, tapir, and all equids. The remaining three cassowary have also now been vaccinated."

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3 volunteer artists help Norfolk zoo protect birds

NORFOLK Artists are using their skills to help reduce the risk of birds flying into animal exhibit windows at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.

Three volunteers created artwork using reflective bird tape at the zoo’s tiger pool and otter-gibbon viewing areas.

The Virginia Zoo has been working with Old Dominion University to study the correlation of different patterns of bird tape to bird strikes on windows.

The species of bird that concerns zoo officials is the yellow-rumped warbler. The bird tape will be removed at the end of the month when the birds’ migration period ends.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/volunteer-artists-help-norfolk-zoo-protect-birds/article_5d54d438-54ad-11e3-a066-0019bb30f31a.html