Loons are dying due to Avian Malaria for First Time

[HuckleB]

http://perfscience.com/content/2143709-loons-are-dying-due-avian-malaria-first-time

"Climate change is blamed to bring along lots of unpleasant impacts on environment and wildlife. Recently, researchers have held climate change a possible cause of loons’ death. Loons are a relatively common sight on many New England lakes. The researchers found malaria parasite in blood samples of some Loons, one was found dead with avian malaria.

Researcher Mark Pokras with his associates have been finding the cause behind loons’ death. Thousands of blood samples taken from these birds over past 30 years indicated the birds were suffering from lead and mercury poisoning as well as other pollutants. At that time, the birds weren’t suffering from avian malaria, according to their findings.

However, the recent claim concluded after the research conducted by Pokras and Ellen Martinsen, a Vermont-based research associate with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, refuted earlier findings by Pokras that did not blamed malaria for birds’ death. A few years ago, they started finding malaria parasites in loon blood samples taken from birds. They detected 12% of samples testing positive. Some of them were expected to be infected with malaria.

Last summer, the researchers found first case of a loon dead out of avian malaria. The loon was on Umbagog Lake located in Maine and New Hampshire. The researchers are further looking for the dead loons that may give another evidence of similar death. Volunteers of Loon Preservation Committee, especially those whose offices are on the loon-populated Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, are searching on lakes across the state for more evidences.

..."

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[Omaha Steve]

1. Please x post in the Birder Group

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1208

[HuckleB]

2. Done.

[KamaAina]

3. Canada's entire economy could collapse!

[HuckleB]

4. Everything will cost at least a Toonie!

[Igel]

5. Scanned the list of subject lines.

And misread this as "Loons are dying due to Ave Maria for First Time."

Didn't know if it was the Bach/Gounod tune or the actual prayer. Either seemed as likely.

[HuckleB]

6. +1,000,000 ... 000

[2naSalit]

7. In Idaho last year

a large group of migrating (large) water fowl died of some disease, some died in flight. It was like hundreds of them. I say Idaho but it was just over the divide from where I'm at so they were heading into Montana at the time. I can't recall if it was tundra geese or swans. It was really alarming for many around here.

We have loons too, I hope they don't die off around here, they are so needed for the ecosystem.

[HuckleB]

9. Yikes. Looks like it was Avian Cholera.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/18/us/idaho-snow-geese-deaths/

[2naSalit]

10. That was it!!

Thank you! Trying to eat and think at the same time.

All we agency (several fed and state) folks were nothing less than disturbed.

[HuckleB]

12. It is terrifying to read about, indeed.

[In_The_Wind]

8. Loons are so beautiful. This is very sad news.

The call of the Loon on Flying Pond, Maine. ...

Common Loons filmed on Lake Nubanusit, Nelson, NH.

[2naSalit]

11. As a child

in New England, I fell asleep to that and the call of whip poor wills at night... one of my fondest memories of childhood. When I see or hear loons, I feel good about the local habitat.

[In_The_Wind]

13. The whip-poor-wills are becoming more elusive as time goes by.

The nocturnal birds are on the decline in parts of their range as open forests.

[2naSalit]

15. Wow, thanks

I haven't heard that for many years.

[HuckleB]

14. Indeed. Great videos! Thanks!