Listserv Posts

Re: Wildlife Health Bulletin: Status and Response to Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in North America


If you happen to recover a sick or strange acting bird please be careful. Do not handle without gloves and wear a mask. I know most of you are not field biologists
but as avid birders you may be the first to detect this in Idaho (I really hope not). This can jump to humans and it can be deadly. I excerpted the piece from the email about handling protocols.

 

Field biologists should consider these minimum precautions when handling sick or dead birds associated with a morbidity/mortality event: 

  • Wear protective clothing including aprons, coveralls, rubber boots, gloves (rubber, latex, or nitrile), eye protection, and face shields that can be disinfected or discarded to prevent skin and mucous membrane contact with biological
    materials and movement of biological materials among sites. 
  • Work in well-ventilated areas or upwind of animals to decrease the risk of inhaling airborne particulate matter such as dust, feathers, or dander. 
  • Wash hands often and thoroughly for at least 30 seconds with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
  • Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals. 
  • Decontaminate work areas and properly dispose of potentially infectious material including carcasses. The primary goal of carcass disposal (e.g., incineration, composting, certified landfilling) is to prevent the spread of infectious
    agent. 
  • Your agency may also have policies regarding the use of particulate respirators (N-95) while handling sick and dead wildlife. 

 

 

***********************

Tempe Regan
(she/her)

Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

99 US-93

Salmon, ID 83467

Office: 208.756.2271

Mobile: 406.396.4856

 

Listserv Posts

Great Gray Owl – Montour, SEWO – Eagle Island info

I had really nice looks at two great gray owls this morning at the Montour WMA at the intersection of Montour Rd and Main St.  They were easy to spot as they sat in the trees listening for pretty. The other bird of interest were a few bohemian waxwings mixed in with a flock of cedar.

Eagle Island State Park is a great place to find raptors, and I’m up to 10 species in about two years.  I saw the short-eared owl in a field north of the dirt road along the Boise River just about south of the old abattoir.  This park gets regular use from dog trainers and dog walkers, and I had the owl right at sunrise before anyone else was out there.  It really was a chance encounter, and the species could occur anywhere in the fields in the park.  If you decide to try for one, get there early and walk through the fields.  Eagle Island State Park is a fee site, but there is no charge if you have a state park pass.

Cheers
Listserv Posts

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch – Blacks Creek Rd.

Hi all,

Spotted 6 GCRF mixed in with a flock of Redpolls on Blacks Creek Rd. NORTH of the freeway, approx a 1/2 mile from the freeway exit there is a gravel pit (I think it is called Premier Aggregates). Along the berm on the edge of the the road there are lots of sunflower seed tops. We found a large flock of Redpolls over the weekend. Returned today because my sister-in-law thought she spotted a Rosy Finch. I got a couple low quality pics before a Merlin swooped through and the flock went over the berm into private property.
Prior to this stop along Blacks Creek I was at Bonneville Point and had hiked out about 1.5 miles west from the structure (the road that 4-wheelers have packed down the snow) and stirred up a large flock that dropped out of sight almost immediately. My gut said they were Rosy Finch but just didn’t get a good enough look (probably 30-40 birds).
Danette Henderson
Boise
Listserv Posts

Short-eared owl – Eagle Island State Park

Following up on the great gray owl post, I had a short-eared owl shortly before sunrise at Eagle Island State Park today.  I’ve seen many northern harriers at the park, and thought it would be a great place for a short-eared.  I kicked one up out of a field this morning, and the buoyant flight made for identification.  There are a few great horned owls that hang around the park, but their heavy body makes for a different flight pattern.  

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