QC, Canada: Îles-de-la-Madeleine: avian flu decimated half of the gannets

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.journaldequebec.com/202...aviaire-a-decime-la-moitie-des-fous-de-bassan

Îles-de-la-Madeleine: avian flu decimated half of the gannets
Courtesy Pauline Martigny
Helene Fauteux
Saturday, February 18, 2023 11:30 UPDATE Saturday, February 18, 2023 11:30

Last year's avian flu epidemic was devastating for northern gannets in the Magdalen Islands, according to the latest data from the Canadian Wildlife Service, obtained by the QMI Agency.

The count, conducted by the organization during the month of July 2022 by aerial photos, reveals that the colony of northern gannets at Rocher aux Oiseaux, off the Islands, has declined by 58%.

“Our previous monitoring of the gannet population dates back to 2020,” explains Jean-François Rail, biologist responsible for monitoring seabird populations that nest in Quebec. “And the impact of avian flu is unprecedented for the Rocher aux Oiseaux colony. We had never seen such a drop!

 

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Avian flu: Bonaventure Island spared

By Information Department-February 27, 202326

Unlike on Île Bonaventure, the avian flu wiped out more than half of the gannet colony at Rocher-aux-Oiseaux in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Jean-François Rail, biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Service, noted a 58% decline in the population of breeding pairs compared to the count carried out in 2020, "unheard of" according to him.

The colony of Île Bonaventure was not spared by avian influenza, he points out, but in a smaller proportion, that is to say a drop of 13% between 2020 and 2022.

The biologist cannot explain the disparity between the two populations, describing the difference as "an enigma", and is also surprised that the dozen other species of seabirds that nest on the Rocher aux Oiseaux do not seem to have been affected by the virus.

Jean-François Rail specifies that he does not believe that the colony of the islet is in danger despite the significant decline in the number of gannets observed.

Remember that the H5N1 strain caused a wave of lightning mortality last spring, which resulted in several thousand carcasses stranded on the beaches of the Islands.

More than 4,000 animals were removed from the Madelinot shores during a collection operation coordinated by the Maritime Community.

CFIM collaboration


Audio (in French) :
https://www.radiogaspesie.ca/nouvelles/actualite/grippe-aviaire-lile-bonaventure-epargnee/