Avian Preventative Medicine (JTA 3)

Question 1

Describe your preventative medicine plan for passerine birds

Answer 1

• Preventive Medicine (F8):
  
  • Proper husbandry to reduce stress and work toward preventing dz exacerbated by immunosuppression.
  • Quarantine usually a minimum of 30 days.
    
    • Screening for atoxoplasmosis, mycobacteriosis, salmonellosis, and chlamydiosis may be warranted.
    • Regular wt checks and exams.
      
      • Can be conditioned to perch on scales to minimize stress.
  • Perform exams and diagnostics efficiently.
  • Necropsy and histo should be performed on all dead individuals.

Question 2

A recent study described the roles zoological parks and aquariums can have on migratory bird conservation.

What are five methods zoological institutions can employ to help with conservation?

Answer 2

Hutchins, M., Marra, P. P., Diebold, E., Kreger, M. D., Sheppard, C., Hallager, S., & Lynch, C. (2018). The evolving role of zoological parks and aquariums in migratory bird conservation. Zoo biology, 37(5), 360-368.

Abstract: As threats to migratory birds in the Western Hemisphere, including North America, intensify and bird populations decline, there is a growing interest among zoo biologists in the conservation and management of these taxa. The purpose of this article is to explore the role that Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)‐accredited zoos and aquariums either are playing or could play in the conservation and management of migratory birds. Topics explored include: (1) Public education and advocacy; (2) Captive breeding and reintroduction; (3) In situ conservation; (4) Tracking and monitoring; (5) Research/technology development; and (6) Sustainability/green practices; and (7) Partnerships. Zoos and aquariums could play an important role in increasing the public’s access to understanding migratory birds and the threats they face, ultimately helping to protect these remarkable species.

• Migratory birds – spp that make seasonal, often N or S, to and fro movements between breeding and non-breeding (wintering) grounds.
  
  • Growing concern for conservation efforts, air space is considered a key habitat for many species.
  • Anthropogenic threats – habitat loss, alteration from development, illegal hunting, competition with invasive spp i.e. cats, window strikes, communication towers, wind turbines, power lines, solar arrays, toxic pesticides. Climate change.
  • Natural threats – severe weather, predation, disease, starvation, intra and inter specific competition.
• Public education and advocacy:
  
  • Must show people what they can do in their own lives, including feeding them by providing native food plants, giving a place to breed or bird house, keeping cats indoors, using pesticides sparingly, marking windows to prevent collisions, turning off outdoor lights at night, drinking bird-friendly coffee etc.
  • Immersive aviaries, mist netting experiences for visiting school groups and the public.
• Captive breeding and reintroduction:
  
  • Establishing and sustaining populations of non-threatened spp for use as models for threatened spp.
  • Developing sustainable collections for zoological institutions.
  • Ex situ insurance populations or candidates for reintroduction.
  • Most zoo-bred animals will never be reintroduced into the wild.
    
    • Possible captive breeding for reintroduction could be a viable strategy as last resort for select species.
    • Captive breeding for reintroduction likely limited utility for migratory birds because:
      
      • Space in zoos is limited.
      • Small migratory songbird populations probably require at least two hundred individuals to remain genetically viable.
      • Reintroduction techniques poorly developed, species-specific.
      • Training to locate food, fly, avoid danger, etc needed.
    • They can also be used for research projects to better understand wild populations.
• Field conservation:
  
  • Indirect and direct involvement.
    
    • Indirect – raising funds, publicity for field projects by partner organizations or outside conservationists.
    • Direct – support of national parks, related species projects conducted by zoo staff.
  • Protection of known wintering and breeding sites, air spaces important.
    
    • There are opportunities for zoos to partner with national, state, and municipal public land management organizations i.e. national parks, wildlife refuges.
• Tracking and monitoring:
  
  • Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Migratory Connectivity Project.
    
    • ID breeding population migration and wintering, understanding of ecological and evolutionary links throughout the year.
  • Nation-wide bird counts, participation in Cornell Lab of O observation recording, erecting Motus towers at zoo locations to help monitor avian migratory behavior.
• Research and technology development:
  
  • Testing of technology prior to application in the field.
  • Research covering repro biology, behavior, husbandry and care, physiology, nutrition, growth and development, dz and pathology, reintroduction, animal welfare, veterinary care.
  • Understanding role of migratory birds in spread of infectious diseases.
• Sustainability/green practices:
  
  • Bird-friendly design for animal exhibits and other structures.
  • Minimizing collisions indoor and outdoor.
  • Awareness of power lines and towers, bird smart wind and solar energy, purchasing energy form developers and utilities that are sited away from large concentrations of birds, reduce bird kill, and provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable mortality.
  • Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center Bird friendly coffee certification.
    
    • Coffee grown under a shade canopy provides a habitat for migratory and resident species.
    • Selling bird friendly coffee is an easy way for AZA institutions and members to support migratory bird conservation.
• Partnerships:
  
  • Bird Conservation Alliance.
  • Alliance for Zero Extinction.
  • Partners in Flight.
  • Government wildlife agencies – USFWS, NOAA, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  • American Bird Conservancy.
  • Audubon.
• Conclusion: Zoos can make substantial contributions to the migratory bird conservation by:
  
  • Direct and indirect support for in situ conservation.
  • Assisting in the tracking and monitoring of migratory bird populations.
  • Adoption of green practices.
  • Developing and implementing targeted educational programs and advocacy efforts.
  • Developing effective husbandry, release and translocation methods through systematic research now rather than when a spp becomes endangered.

Question 3

A recent study discussed prioritizing the most endangered or evolutionarily distinct birds as exhibit specimens.

What were their recommendations?

Answer 3

Biega, A. M., Lamont, M., Mooers, A., Bowkett, A. E., & Martin, T. E. (2019). Guiding the prioritization of the most endangered and evolutionary distinct birds for new zoo conservation programs. Zoo biology, 38(3), 305-315.

Abstract: Zoos have played a pivotal role in the successful reinforcement and reintroduction of species threatened with extinction, but prioritization is required in the face of increasing need and limited capacity. One means of prioritizing between species of equal threat status when establishing new breeding programs is the consideration of evolutionary distinctness (ED). More distinct species have fewer close relatives such that their extinction would result in a greater overall loss to the Tree of Life. Considering global ex situ holdings of birds (a group with a complete and well‐detailed evolutionary tree), we investigate the representation of at‐risk and highly evolutionarily distinct species in global zoo holdings. We identified a total of 2,236 bird species indicated by the Zoological Information Management System as being held in zoological institutions worldwide. As previously reported, imperiled species (defined as those possessing endangered or critically endangered threat status) in this database are less likely to be held in zoos than non‐imperiled species. However, we find that species possessing ED scores within the top 10% of all bird species are more likely to be held in zoos than other species, possibly because they possess unique characteristics that have historically made them popular exhibits. To assist with the selection of high priority ED species for future zoo conservation programs, we provide a list of imperiled species currently not held in zoos, ranked by ED. This list highlights species representing particular priorities for ex situ conservation planners, and represents a practical tool for improving the conservation value of zoological

• Avian extinction rates are projected to increase rapidly throughout the 21^st century
• Zoos currently house 23% of extant bird species, more than mammals (18%) and amphibians (11%)
• Captive breeding programs play an important role for maintaining and reintroducing endangered species
• This study examined the phlyogenies (as of 2016) for length of unique evolutionary time and identified the most genetically unique birds.
• A second list of endangered birds not currently housed in zoos was generated as a guide for future acquisitions to maintain genetic diversity
• Evolutionary unique birds are more likely to be held in zoos
• 639 birds are identified as imperiled – 83% of those are not housed in zoological collections
• Pelagic species may not work in captivity although auks have done well.

Take Home: Evolutionary distinct endangered birds should be incorporated into zoological collections – ideally from private or organization breeding lines if possible.