All, Because of the uptick in West Nile Virus cases this year it is important to report sick or dead birds, especially those species more susceptible to the infection in the event local public health officials would like to assay for seropositivity. Even if we know the virus is being reported, it is important to know from an epidemiologic standpoint whether the number of cases is static or increasing. I would encourage you to report such sightings or submit carcasses for testing. Becky Schwiebert, DVM, PhD Pearland -----Original Message----- From: Stevan Hawkins <shawkins4@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: TexBirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: SATXbirds <SATXbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; comalbirds <comalbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thu, Aug 23, 2012 2:33 pm Subject: [texbirds] Re: Ill crows TexBirders: Yesterday, August 22, around 1:00 or 200 p.m., my brother and I saw a large corvid dragging its tail as it walked something like 30-50 feet as it crossed the street my brother lives on. The complex Ron lives in is adjacent to the southern boundary of San Antonio's McAllister Park. The bird was heading towards McAllister Park. Onward! Steve Stevan Hawkins San Antonio TX From: Linda Price <lprice@xxxxxxx> Subject: [texbirds] West Nile Virus Re: Ultey migrants etc. WNV Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:15:03 -0500 I saw a dead crow on August 15 in north Longview, Gregg County. I called the West Nile reporting center in Tyler. I was told they don't track crow deaths anymore because they know the Virus is out there. I guess if you see a dead crow and there is no known Virus outbreak, that should be reported. Linda Gail Price Longview, Texas On Aug 1, 2012, at 10:12 AM, Brush Freeman wrote: > > Also curious if birds are being found due to recent outbreak of West Nile > Virus. One of my crows seems to have vanished , one of the young birds, at > least I have not seen it in several days. Right now the family group only > has four birds. Also in Utley it has been quite a while since I have seen or > heard a Blue Jay. Would Purple Martins be influenced by WN and would dead > birds or grackles appear at the roosts? BTW how is the Highland Mall roost? > > -- > Brush Freeman > Independent and affiliated Field Biologist > 361-655-7641