Oct. 21, 01:03 EDT
Dead birds found on Beach Strip
Heavy loss of 350 ducks probably caused by botulism
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
Botulism is probably the cause of a large bird kill along the shores of Lake Ontario near Confederation Park.
Councillor Chad Collins, a member of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, said last night city staff had collected 350 dead birds along the shoreline between the Burlington Canal lift-bridge and the park.
A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, which will likely have the birds tested at a laboratory at the University of Guelph in the next few days, says botulism has been the cause of similar bird kills in Ontario.
"Our staff would have to look into it," said Anne-Marie Flanagan, spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay.
"Sometimes when you get large kills of fish or birds it's botulism, but we would have to do some testing. Obviously, it's something that is a concern. We want to make sure everything is fine."
Collins said staff began finding the dead birds -- all believed to be scaups, which are a type of duck -- Tuesday while they were doing routine patrols of the shoreline along the Hamilton Beach Strip. They patrol the beach collecting birds, such as cormorants, which die when they collide with nearby hydro towers.
On Tuesday, they had collected 250 dead ducks. Yesterday, they added 100 to the pile at a site on Van Wagner's Beach. The birds have all since been removed by city animal control officials.
Collins said the city has been told by bird specialists the kill is not unusual this time of year, but the specialists have been surprised by the number. He said the city has been told there were similar bird kills in other parts of Ontario this year, such as in the Kincardine area.
Scientists suspect zebra mussels, quagga mussels and gobies are linked to the death of birds across the Great Lakes. All three species were introduced to the Great Lakes from the Black and Caspian seas.
The mussels are believed to concentrate the botulism, which has always been in the lakes. Gobies, a fish species, have been found to carry botulism after eating the mussels. Scaups, a diving duck, have been known to eat gobies and have turned up dead in other parts of Ontario.
dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351
(Image)
Cathie Coward, the Hamilton Spectator
Sharla Sutherland, an animal control officer, with one of approximately 350 ducks, believed to be scaups, that washed up on the Hamilton Beach Strip. The bird is marked with red spray paint.
Dead birds found on Beach Strip
Heavy loss of 350 ducks probably caused by botulism
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
Botulism is probably the cause of a large bird kill along the shores of Lake Ontario near Confederation Park.
Councillor Chad Collins, a member of the Hamilton Conservation Authority, said last night city staff had collected 350 dead birds along the shoreline between the Burlington Canal lift-bridge and the park.
A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, which will likely have the birds tested at a laboratory at the University of Guelph in the next few days, says botulism has been the cause of similar bird kills in Ontario.
"Our staff would have to look into it," said Anne-Marie Flanagan, spokesperson for Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay.
"Sometimes when you get large kills of fish or birds it's botulism, but we would have to do some testing. Obviously, it's something that is a concern. We want to make sure everything is fine."
Collins said staff began finding the dead birds -- all believed to be scaups, which are a type of duck -- Tuesday while they were doing routine patrols of the shoreline along the Hamilton Beach Strip. They patrol the beach collecting birds, such as cormorants, which die when they collide with nearby hydro towers.
On Tuesday, they had collected 250 dead ducks. Yesterday, they added 100 to the pile at a site on Van Wagner's Beach. The birds have all since been removed by city animal control officials.
Collins said the city has been told by bird specialists the kill is not unusual this time of year, but the specialists have been surprised by the number. He said the city has been told there were similar bird kills in other parts of Ontario this year, such as in the Kincardine area.
Scientists suspect zebra mussels, quagga mussels and gobies are linked to the death of birds across the Great Lakes. All three species were introduced to the Great Lakes from the Black and Caspian seas.
The mussels are believed to concentrate the botulism, which has always been in the lakes. Gobies, a fish species, have been found to carry botulism after eating the mussels. Scaups, a diving duck, have been known to eat gobies and have turned up dead in other parts of Ontario.
dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351
(Image)
Cathie Coward, the Hamilton Spectator
Sharla Sutherland, an animal control officer, with one of approximately 350 ducks, believed to be scaups, that washed up on the Hamilton Beach Strip. The bird is marked with red spray paint.