sunday times: updates

Some updates on topics covered in previous editions of the sunday times.

• West Nile Virus:  Effect Measure discusses a recent report that American Robins (Turdus migratorius) may be spreading WNV, not American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). This conclusion was made because robin blood was found more often in mosquitoes than crow blood.  All this says to me is that the population of mosquitoes tested fed more often on crows. Nick Komar, WNV expert at the CDC, is also skeptical that these results indicate a causal link between robins and transmission to humans. The author of the blood study, Theodore Andreadis, of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station wants to sample blood from robins next, catching them in mist nets, but the report goes on to say that might be difficult as robins "are wily in avoiding the nets, researchers said."  THEY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.  I can't AVOID catching robins even if I try.  Once you catch a couple, it attracts all the rest in the area which also get caught.  They're one of the easiest birds to catch. Anyway, the key to WNV prevention lies in protecting people from mosquitoes.
• Bird flu (also here):  Also at Effect Measure a report that avian influenza, H5N1, is creeping westward, having been confirmed in Russia.  The blog reports, "Today the Russian Agriculture Ministry announced that the hundreds of chicken, geese, ducks and turkeys that died in Siberia last week died of H5N1 infection. This virus is on the wing, literally and figuratively, and it can't be stopped. It seems it will inevitably spread to bird populations outside of Asia, with the next stop likely the Indian sub-continent and Europe."
• Persistant chemicals in the environment (also here): Mercury has been found in the blood of several species of songbirds, including the rare Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli), demonstrating that mercury is impacting many more wildlife species than expected, while we don't have a clear understanding of what the sublethal effects of this toxin may be. This story is in the latest issue of National Wildlife magazine.
• Boreal forest destruction:  The Forest Conservation blog has a post on the egregious violations by Weyerhaeuser in the Canadian boreal forest, where they have exceeded their logging and road building quotas and owe $1.5 million in fines.  Lots of information there with links.

Comments

[Trix]

Sigh... Canada's boreal forest seems to be the corporate world's cherry pie. The Boreal Songbird Initiative Blog http://www.borealbirds.org/blog/
is not only a fine bird blog but also has concise info and links about this delicate and necessary ecosystem.
Thanks for mentioning it.