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Investigation into Abnormal Beak Growth of Red-tailed Hawks in the Pacific Northwest - Pilot Study
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Since 1997, over 110 birds, primarily red-tailed hawks, across the Pacific Northwest have been discovered to have abnormally elongated beaks. The cause and extent (both spatial and temporal) of the "long-beaked syndrome" remains unknown, making management of the issue difficult.
This pilot study is designed to determine if standard trapping and maintenance of normal beaked and abnormal beaked red-tailed hawks, and subsequent sampling for physiological, immunological, and toxicological parameters, are suitable for a large-scale study to determine the cause of beak abnormalities.
We will trap and maintain in captivity a limited number of "normal" and "abnormal" hawks to sample blood for selected contaminants, blood parasites, plasma Vitamin A (retinol), thyroxin, and general health via the "well bird blood panel package," which includes clinical chemistries. Dr. J. Lindsay Oaks (DVM, PhD, Dip ACVM, Assistant Professor) will provide all maintenance of captured red-tailed hawks and supplies necessary to sample blood and conduct physiological, immunological, and toxicological analyses through the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) and coordinate diagnostic and/or forensic investigations. WADDL is a fully accredited diagnostic laboratory that will provide the full range of services necessary to conduct the pilot study, including gross and microscopic pathology, electron microscopy, toxicology, bacteriology, mycology, virology, serology, and molecular biology.
Henny, Charles J. - Research Zoologist
Phone: 541-757-4840
Email: charles_j_henny@usgs.gov
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