[Tweeters] HPAI

[Pearson, Scott F (DFW)]

Greetings Tweeters,

Highly parthenogenic avian influenza (H5N1) has been detected in Caspian Terns and gulls (GWGU X WEGU) on Rat Island near Ft. Flagler with very high mortality rates for terns in particular.  A similar mortality event appears to be occurring on the lower Columbia River tern colonies.  We are trying to document the extent of this event and the overall impact on the West Coast tern population; consequently, we are trying to locate additional tern colonies in the Salish Sea.  Working with our partners over the past weeks, we have checked Smith/Minor Islands, Dungeness Spit, and the Seattle and Tacoma waterfronts with no evidence of breeding to date for those locations.  We are aware of a couple hundred terns roosting at the Port of Tacoma near the middle channel but we have not located a nesting site.  We will be investigating the Port of Everett tomorrow.  We are particularly interested in information on locations of breeding terns in the Everett and Bellingham areas.  If you have documented breeding CATE this season, please let us know the exact location, the number of terns observed, and the evidence for local breeding.  Also, if you document dead terns, please let us know the x,y location.  Please do not touch or handle carcasses and keep pets away.

If you have information, please e-mail me directly.

Thank you!

Scott


Scott Pearson, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Wildlife Science Division
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA  98501
360-584-2107

he/him/his

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