beak deformities in wild birds in alaska
TRANSCRIPT
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Beak deformities in wild birds in Alaska
Caroline Van Hemert USGS Alaska Science Center
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Anchorage Daily News March 2, 1998
Story by Anne Coray
First reports Nov 1997 – Mar 1998 Anchorage, Big Lake
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Photo by Judy Rowe Taylor
Received increasing number of reports from biologists, members of the public
Multiple species apparently affected
Needed to learn more about this problem in Alaskan birds!
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Field research & public observation reports
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Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus)
Photo by Don Kuhle Photo by Joy Geiselman
Photo by Robert Gill
6.5% (± 0.5)
Normal background level in wild birds: <0.5%
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Northwestern Crows (Corvus caurinus)
Photo by Ron Horn
Photo by Bill O’Brien
Photo by Kevin Mack
16.9% (± 5.3)
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Photo by Diane Henderson
Nuthatches
Photo by Steph Wackler
Photo by Phil Turner
Photo by Mary Ferraci
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Jays, Magpies, Ravens
Photo by Carla Corin
Photo by Tony Mecklenburg
Photo by Mark Prins
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Woodpeckers
Photo by Ralph Van Dusseldorp
Photo by Anni Porto
Photo by Don Sterba
Photo by Terri Joron
Photo by Ron McCoy
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Red-tailed hawks
Photo by Jack Dumbacher
Photo by Bud Anderson
Photo by Lacey Hartje
Photo by Donald Metzner
Photo by Steve Mlodinow
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon
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Black-capped Chickadees
> 3,000
Where do deformities occur?
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Northwestern Crows
> 3,000
Where do deformities occur?
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Geographic “spread” in AK/Pacific NW?
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Photo by Roy Cowley
Photo by Noel Degardin
Other locations: Northern Europe
Photo by Dave Kjaer
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Northern Europe
India
Chile, Peru, Ecuador
Rest of N. America
Alaska/Pacific NW
Global spread?
Local clusters
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Photo: Ron Horn
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What are deformities?
Photo by Ken Whitten
How do they develop?
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Clinical signs…the doctor’s report
Irregular, discolored keratin
Beak overgrowth
Skin problems, feather loss
Abnormal feathers
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What part of beak affected?
Underlying bone normal
Overgrowth of beak keratin
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Development of deformities
Arise in adult birds Change in state from “normal” to “affected”
Caused by very rapid keratin growth
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Effects on birds: “So what”?
Diet Plumage Reproduction
Photo by Laurie Green
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Consequence, not cause, of deformities.
Differences in diet
Photos by D. Quick, S. Fenn, S. Shiesl, T. Schantz
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Normal
Affected
Compromised preening, dirty feathers Difficulty staying warm and dry
Dirt & debris
Effects on birds: Plumage
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Effects on birds: Reproduction
Females Nested later in season Fewer eggs hatched Raised fewer young
Males Fewer young survived More egg “dumping”
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- Feeder foods/nutrition - Fungal, bacterial infection - Mites/parasites - Metals, other contaminants - Other known diseases - Genetics
What we’ve ruled out:
Photo by Bill Schmoker
Photo by Scott Bredbenner
Photo by Steve Dubois
Possible causes?
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Photo by D. Corrington
- Unknown/novel virus - Emerging contaminants? - Multiple stressors?
Photo by Ben Mitchell
Photo by Elva Paulson
Ongoing research:
Possible causes?
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You can help by reporting beak deformities: http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/landbirds/beak_deformity
(Or Google Search: USGS Beak Deformities)
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Questions or Comments?
THANKS!
• Photo by Carol Griswold
Photo by Mary Zalar