FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Peregine Falcons and West Nile Virus

["Bill Williams" <jwwil2@xxxxxx>]

Fellow Birders,
    Last week the Center for Conservation Biology at William and Mary received 
distressing confirmation that the death of 3 young Peregrine Falcons was caused 
by West Nile virus.  A West Nile virus test (an indicator test, not wholly 
conclusive) on a mouth swabbing from a fourth chick was positive.  The parent 
male was found alive beneath the nest site exhibiting neurological distress 
behaviors symptomatic of a West Nile virus infection.  Both the male and the 
live chick were taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia.  The chick seems to 
be making a recovery.  To date the adult male has not shown much improvement.
    For obvious reasons, the Center is not at liberty to reveal where this 
falcon nest is.
    Also, an adult Brown Pelican, clearly in neurological distress, was found 
by Center for Conservation Biology staff on Smith Island in the upper part of 
the Chesapeake Bay on July 2.  We have no proof that the bird was suffering 
from a West Nile virus infection, though the symptoms were classic for such.
Bill Williams 
     

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