[BCNnet] sick waterfowl in recent news coverage

[smchecchia at aol.com]

I'm posting the following for those of you who may be concerned or curious about the recent media reports of dead waterfowl in the McKinley Park area.  
 
For many weeks the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors have been receiving calls about sick and dead birds in McKinley Park (and other parts of the Chicago area).  CBCM has picked up many geese, ducks, even a swan.  The sick birds were taken to Willowbrook Wildlife Center where they exhibited the signs of avian botulism, which include the loss of muscular control of legs, wings and neck.  Some of the treated birds have recovered and will be released.
 
Avian botulism is a naturally occurring phenomenon that results when decaying animal and vegetable waste in stagnant water create the anaerobic conditions that allow the bacteria to thrive, particularly during prolonged hot weather conditions.  Infected birds reach a point where they cannot swallow or hold their heads out of the water to avoid drowning (which appears to be happening to the birds seen in videos shown on TV).  If rescued and treated in time, many of these birds can survive.  
 
You can call the CBCM hotline if you want to report an injured, dead or sick bird:  773-988-1867.
 
Suzanne Checchia
Evanston
smchecchia at aol.com


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