[Tweeters] Avian flu decimating Caspian Tern colony near Fort Flagler, Marrowstone

[Steve Hampton]

I'm sorry to report that WDFW has collected nearly 600 dead adult Caspian
Terns at Rat Island in the past week. H5N1 flu really went thru the colony
quickly, just as the eggs were hatching. There are still hundreds of adult
terns alive and we continue to monitor the colony. WDFW and State Health
will provide an update next week. This may be the first avian flu epidemic
in WA in wild birds during the breeding season. It was in some waterfowl at
Skagit Flats last winter. Avian flu in wild birds is a fairly recent
phenomenon.

So far only a few dead gulls have tested positive, with ~150 healthy gull
chicks visible on the island. Also 10+ Black Oystercatcher young seem fine.
No harbor seal or Bald Eagle deaths that we know of, though avian flu is
known to spread to them.

This is a devastating blow to the West Coast Caspian Tern population. They
are a relatively long-lived slower-reproducing species (with poor
reproduction in recent years), so the loss of adults can take decades to
replace. eBird shows ~80% decline in Puget Sound since 2007, and all of
that was without avian flu.

Note that dead birds from avian flu should be considered contagious,
especially to dogs. Transmission can also be thru contact with droppings
(e.g. dogs sniffing). The virus can survive up to two weeks in cool, moist
environments, but less in sunlight. Fortunately, nearly all of the
carcasses have been on Rat Island and very few at Fort Flagler campground.

all for now,

-- 
Steve Hampton
Port Townsend, WA  (qatáy)
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