Angeli Gabriel

Sat, February 3, 2024 at 12:13 PM PST·2 min read

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PORTLAND – Seven California condors that were hatched and raised at an Oregon Zoo facility were recently released in central California, according to Oregon Zoo officials.

Officials noted the release marked an important step in the effort to save the species, which is the largest land bird in North America. For reference, by 1982, the number of California condors in the world had plummeted to 22.

In the more than 40 years since, California condors have been brought into human care to help the population bounce back from the brink of extinction.

One of those efforts includes the Oregon Zoo’s program at its Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation, where the seven recently released condors were born in the spring of 2022.

Zoo officials said the critically endangered birds were then released in December 2023 at a release site in San Simeon, California. They noted that the area is home to a growing population of free-flying condors inhabiting redwood forests and rocky shorelines.

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The released birds were “soft releases,” officials said. This means that the birds, which were contained in flight pens with automated doors, were able to leave the pens on their own time.

“It’s so wonderful to see them take flight,” said Kelli Walker, the senior condor keeper at the Oregon Zoo. “We’ve had a lot of success with Oregon Zoo condors pairing off with their wild counterparts to hatch the next generation of free-flying birds.”

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In an announcement made Tuesday, the condors released in December seem to be thriving.

“The condors released last month are doing great so far,” said Joe Burnett, condor program manager at the Ventana Wildlife Society, which operates the condor release site in San Simeon. “They’re roosting in good spots and getting plenty to eat.”

Since 2003, more than 73 condors reared at the Oregon Zoo have gone out to pens for release, according to zoo officials.

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Because of California condor conservation efforts like those by the Oregon Zoo, the number of California condors in the world has risen to 500, zoo officials said. Most of those birds are flying free.

Original article source: Critically endangered California condors released into the wild

By Ashmita Gupta

2 days ago

TWC India

https://weather.com/en-IN/india/news/news/2024-02-02-bird-flu-kills-antarctica-penguins-for-the-first-time

2024 seems to have begun on a somber note for wildlife conservationists as a concerning trend of ‘first-evers’ sparks chaos over the usually tranquil environs of Antarctica. In January, the first-ever polar bear death due to avian influenza came to light, with reports of the first penguin deaths due to the same bird flu following hot on its heels in February.

While we humans were engrossed in our own hellish lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a mini pandemic of sorts has been reigning terror over the wildlife in the Northern Hemisphere, around the Atlantic, Pacific Ocean and Southern Africa since 2022. A highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of seabirds. And experts fear that the worst is yet to come.

Already, the deadly visitor H5N1, which probably reached Antarctica by air, water, or possibly both, has caused the death of several penguins in the region. This unwelcome guest, confirmed in two deceased gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island, marks a chilling first for the Antarctic region. Further, at least 35 adults and chicks have also been reported as either symptomatic or dead.

At the Falkland Island, over 200 chicks, alongside a handful of adults, have succumbed, government spokesperson Sally Heathman told Reuters. Other seabird individuals, like the Southern Fulmar, Black Browed Albatross and the Skua, have also died on various islands of Antarctica, as per the Falkland Islands Department of Agriculture.

The situation is particularly concerning for penguins already facing diverse threats like climate change, pollution, and overfishing. This virus presents a unique challenge due to penguins’ lack of immunity and their densely packed colonies, perfect breeding grounds for rapid transmission. The devastating impact seen in South America, where thousands of Humboldt penguins perished, serves as a stark warning.

However, the ongoing events are far from surprising. Experts have been raising alarm about how we could be facing “one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times” if bird flu reached remote Antarctic penguin populations. And their predictions seem to be coming true, sadly.

The virus reached South Georgia in October 2023, infecting numerous bird species and marine mammals like seals and sea lions. The mass die-off witnessed in South America serves as a grim foreshadowing for Antarctica’s future.

While infections haven’t been confirmed on the mainland yet, experts fear the virus might be spreading undetected. The race is on to understand the scope of the outbreak and implement mitigation strategies to protect these vulnerable creatures. The fate of penguins and the entire Antarctic ecosystem hangs in the balance.

LOW RISK: None of the deceased’s close contacts contracted the virus, and it is being viewed as an isolated incident with low risk of triggering an epidemic, officials said

• By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA
  • https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/02/02/2003812977

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday continued its level 2 travel alert for China’s Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, after a Chinese woman died of combined H3N2 and H10N5 strains of avian flu in a global first.

The CDC received a report from Chinese health authorities on Tuesday, describing a new case of fatal H10N5 infection in Anhui Province that originated via cross-species transmission, it said in a news release.

The sexagenarian, who had underlying health conditions, first presented symptoms on Nov. 30 last year and was hospitalized two days later at a medical facility in Zhejiang Province, where she died on Dec. 16, the CDC said, citing the Chinese report.

The Centers for Disease Control building in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph.

Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times

A sample from the woman on Jan. 22 tested positive for the two strains of bird flu and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the result four days later, it said.

None of the deceased’s close contacts in Anhui and Zhejiang tested positive for either virus strain, suggesting that the infection was zoonotic, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said.

Citing Chinese health officials, tests on viral genetic materials revealed that the pathogens had originated from birds and the risk of human-to-human spread was low, he said.

This case marked the first human death by H10N5 and the WHO has yet to publish its evaluation of the virus’ infection risks or symptom severity, he said.

Current vaccines are effective against common flu viruses, but do not target H10N5, Lo said, adding that personal precautions are the main defense against the avian flu’s spread for now.

A total of 445 people submitted to voluntary H10N5 tests at Taiwan’s international airports and no traveler from China or its territories of Hong Kong and Macau had tested positive as of Saturday, he said.

The case in Anhui is likely an isolated incident with a low risk of triggering epidemic spread, the CDC said.

The CDC urged the public to only consume meat and eggs that are fully cooked, wash their hands with soap, wear a mask, seek medical attention if ill, make a full report of contact history to doctors when prompted and be vaccinated if expecting prolonged exposure to farm-raised animals.

People should refrain from trafficking or consuming meat products of uncertain origin, unnecessary contact with fowl and other farm-raised animals, wilding farm-raised animals or allowing them to mix with other animal populations, the CDC said.

The public is advised to avoid crowded or enclosed areas, while exercise and a balanced diet could increase immune system function, it said.

H10N5 is a type of novel influenza A virus, a term referring to viruses other than seasonal influenza A viruses commonly circulating in the human population, the CDC said, adding that these viruses usually jump the species barrier from birds or mammals.

The CDC has issued level 1 travel advisories for novel influenza A viruses for 18 Chinese provinces and administrative zones, and level 2 travel alerts for 13 provinces and zones where cases were reported, it said.

A level 1 advisory and level 2 alert respectively indicate that normal and enhanced precautions should be taken for travel in the designated areas, CDC guidelines state.

More than 2 million birds were killed in California over the last month as producers across the globe struggle once again to control the rapid spread of the virus.

Published Feb. 2, 2024

By 

Nathan OwensReporter

• https://www.fooddive.com/news/bird-flu-roils-poultry-industry-raising-concerns-ahead-of-easter/706165/

First published on 

A deadly wave of bird flu has infiltrated commercial farms throughout the U.S. and is devastating poultry growers in California. Once again, in what seems like a repeat of this time last year, the spread threatens to raise egg prices ahead of Easter.

Approximately 1.96 million birds raised for domestic meat or egg consumption in California were culled in January alone to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Detections were found at seven commercial chicken, egg or turkey farms.

The monthly uptick is more than half of all the birds affected by the virus in California since October 2023, according to the data. Most of the commercial cases are contained to four counties, including Sonoma County, where local officials declared a state of emergency following two detections in early December.

As cases continue to climb and more birds are depopulated, Brian Earnest, a protein analyst with CoBank, said it will be difficult to replace the amount of poultry and eggs leaving the market, especially in California where there are cage-free laws that prohibit sourcing from conventional eggs.

“Overall, the market hasn’t seen much impact yet,” Earnest said. Retail and wholesale prices have seasonally weakened after growers rebuilt their flocks and production improved following the worst poultry disease outbreak on record. However, after months without any bird flu detections, the U.S. market outlook has grown murky again with HPAI’s reemergence in fall 2023.

Typically, egg production picks up at the end of the year, when consumers are doing a lot of baking and cooking for the holidays, Earnest said. After that, production winds down to give the industry a sigh of relief and an opportunity for some retooling. But prices could rise once demand picks up again in March, Earnest said, “especially if bird flu continues to be a detriment to the overall supply.”

“I expect as we get closer to Easter to be in a tight supply situation,” he said. “Those cage-free markets are going to see more shelves that are empty compared to other markets.”

By Evan Williams

Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands – After two gentoo penguins were found dead in the Falkland Islands a few weeks ago, the body count started rising. Now, an ecological disaster is on its way.

For years, scientists and governments have managed to keep diseases from sweeping the Antarctic region, avoiding an environmental catastrophe that could see hundreds of species suffer. Sadly, it seems those years have come to an end.

Avian flu is an extremely infectious virus that primarily targets aquatic birds and has been a problem for years. The CDC has identified the virus, known more specifically as H5N1, as being “highly pathogenic” and a “sporadic” threat to humans.

On January 19, however, the Falkland Islands Government recorded a never-before-seen case of the infection. Tragically, two gentoo penguins were found dead on Sea Lion Island, and hundreds soon followed.

https://www.tag24.com/science/environment/nature-facts/bird-flu-attacks-antarctic-penguins-many-more-are-dying-3086484

Fri, February 2, 2024 by Lucas Day

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A Putnam County man has admitted to trapping and spray painting squirrels.

DEC officers arrested 62-year-old Mark Kuhn after they claimed he was trapping and painting the squirrels before releasing them in a nearby park.

Officers say Kuhn trapped the squirrels and spray painted them with apple-red colored “Rust-Oleum Paint + Primer” to “keep track of those returning to his yard and causing his dog to bark.”