Beak Deformities In Hawks. (1 Viewer)

I know there have already been several threads about beak deformities but I have just read the following in the current issue of the special interest magazine. My apologies in advance if this hawk-related item has already been posted;

'Researchers in the United States are trying to find the cause of a mysterious disorder that causes birds' beaks to grow faster than normal and makes it harder for them to hunt.

'For the past two years, the Falcon Research Group, based in Washington state, has documented an alarming number of wild hawks with the deformity.

'In some cases it has developed to such an extent that the birds are unable to eat.'

Can anyone add any further details, please?

Hi Anthony,

Do you have references for your quotes?

I think you'll find that Stan Moore, a raptor bander (amongst other things) from California, has some first-hand knowledge of this. Details of some of his observations are available via http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raptor-conservation/ .

You'll probably need to join to view; his direct contact details are on the site but probably better to post to the group - others may have info too.

Andy.

Earliest report I found (based on your quote) Anthony - http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2005/01/16/news/news01.prt

Seems this does not just happen with hawks, "... she has received about 200 reports of the long-billed phenomenon in 27 other species, including the bald eagle. She has seen the disorder in about 1,200 chickadees, about 10 percent of the population, "a pretty alarming percentage," Handel said. A natural rate of occurrence in the wild should be about half a percent ..." (http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0225/life/stories/01life.htm).

Andrew Rowlands said:

Earliest report I found (based on your quote) Anthony - http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2005/01/16/news/news01.prt

Seems this does not just happen with hawks, "... she has received about 200 reports of the long-billed phenomenon in 27 other species, including the bald eagle. She has seen the disorder in about 1,200 chickadees, about 10 percent of the population, "a pretty alarming percentage," Handel said. A natural rate of occurrence in the wild should be about half a percent ..." (http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/0225/life/stories/01life.htm).

Click to expand...

Andy,

Thanks for the links, although so far I've only been able to open the second one as the first is temporarily closed.

My original posting was a short verbatim report exactly as it appeared in the magazine. I have not posted anything further, as in my opinion to do so would contravene the restrictions imposed by BF on certain topics. By the same token, I am also unable to provide references.

Anthony

Anthony Morton said:

Andy,

Thanks for the links, although so far I've only been able to open the second one as the first is temporarily closed.

My original posting was a short verbatim report exactly as it appeared in the magazine. I have not posted anything further, as in my opinion to do so would contravene the restrictions imposed by BF on certain topics. By the same token, I am also unable to provide references.

Anthony

Click to expand...

Try the advert-filled link http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2005/01/16/news/news01.txt

Did you contact Stan Moore (he has an unmentionable hobby, too!)?

Have there been any similar deformities reported within your, um, field?