Project Update: June 2010

Having learned how to bleed birds from the jugular vein and process the blood sample I have now sampled over 65 individuals during the winter period. In total 74 out of 134 fledglings have been seen at the feeding hoppers and around 21 of them have already been seen with Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) symptoms.

An unrung fledgling was seen using the feeding hoppers at Bel Ombre and I successfully caught it on 28th April 2010 and gave it the name ‘Piou-Piou’. ‘Piou-Piou’ was banded with colour rings and a blood sample was also taken.

Students from Nottingham Trent University came to the field station for a day and watched me access at a nest site close to the Plaine Lievre field station, giving them an appreciation of the practicalities of Echo work and we have also had visits from French and Dutch television crews.

Main Project Page
A Novel Approach to Disease Management; Applying Immunoassays in the Field to Select Immunocompetent Individuals of the Endangered Mauritius Parakeet for Future Reintroduction