Onondaga Audubon Society

MAY 2008 PROGRAM MEETING
in conjunction with
Beaver Lake Nature Center
Wednesday, May 21 - 7pm
Botulism-E and its impacts on water birds and
waterfowl on Lake Ontario
Irene Mazzocchi, Wildlife Biologist
NYSDEC Region 6
In the summer of 2006 on Little Galloo Island, Jefferson
County, several hundred nesting colonial waterbirds were
found to be sick and dying. Bird carcasses were collected
and tested for Botulism E which was determined to be
the cause of death. A similar scenario occurred during
the summer of 2007. In addition to the summer die offs,
migrating loons and other fish eating birds were also found
to have succumbed to this disease. The recent outbreak of
Botulism E in the Great Lakes has raised many questions
about the mechanism in which this toxin is being transferred
to fish eating birds and how we can prevent it.

Save this date...
Annual OAS banquet
at the Drumlins Country Club
Wednesday, June 11
Carol Adams will speak on her trip to Antarctica. More
information in the next newsletter.

	OAS General Meetings; meet Wednesday during the months of September, October, November, December, March, April, May and June Meetings run from 7pm to about 9 pm, unless other wise stated. The usual format is a brief round of announcements, then a break for refreshments and socializing, and then the night's slide program. All meetings and programs are free and open to the public. MAY 2008 PROGRAM MEETING in conjunction with Beaver Lake Nature Center Wednesday, May 21 - 7pm Botulism-E and its impacts on water birds and waterfowl on Lake Ontario Irene Mazzocchi, Wildlife Biologist NYSDEC Region 6 In the summer of 2006 on Little Galloo Island, Jefferson County, several hundred nesting colonial waterbirds were found to be sick and dying. Bird carcasses were collected and tested for Botulism E which was determined to be the cause of death. A similar scenario occurred during the summer of 2007. In addition to the summer die offs, migrating loons and other fish eating birds were also found to have succumbed to this disease. The recent outbreak of Botulism E in the Great Lakes has raised many questions about the mechanism in which this toxin is being transferred to fish eating birds and how we can prevent it. Save this date... Annual OAS banquet at the Drumlins Country Club Wednesday, June 11 Carol Adams will speak on her trip to Antarctica. More information in the next newsletter.