Between March 21, 2005 and November 7, 2005, employees of the Inyo County Department of Environmental Health Services (ICDEHS) shipped 32 dead birds to a California Dept. of Health lab, to be tested for West Nile Virus (WNV). Each bird was reported to ICDEHS by a concerned member of the public.
Of the 32 birds shipped, twelve tested positive for WNV. Of the twelve positive birds, eleven were American Crows and one was an American Goldfinch. (Elsewhere in North America, American Crows have likewise proven to be especially susceptible to WNV.) One crow came from Independence. The remaining birds came from widely-distributed Bishop locations.
We fortunately did not experience the anticipated second-year expansion of the disease. Both the total number of birds tested and the number of positive birds were similar to the numbers from 2004. However, in 2004 more species were positive for WNV.
If you find a dead bird... Because dead birds are often the first sign that WNV has entered a previously uninfected area, local health officials are asking residents to participate in the surveillance program by reporting birds that have been dead for less than 48 hours to the State Department of Health Services West Nile virus Hotline Number, at 877 WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473) or on-line at www.westnile.ca.gov.
During 2004 employees of Inyo County Environmental Health shipped approximately 30 dead birds to a California Department of Health lab for testing for West Nile virus (WNV). Each bird was reported by a concerned Owens Valley resident. Twelve Owens Valley birds tested positive for WNV. The first bird found to be positive for WNV was a Lesser Goldfinch which expired at Eastern Sierra Wildlife Care on 28 Aug 04. All twelve WNV-positive birds were found in the north-west "quadrant" of Bishop. If the pattern from elsewhere in North America holds true for the Owens Valley, next year the virus will "amplify", resulting in many more dead birds. Then in subsequent years, the virus will attain "maintenance" level, with fewer infected birds.
Here is a complete list of the 2004 WNV-positive birds:
1. Mallard
2. American Crow (4 birds)
3. Common Raven
4. Orange-crowned Warbler
5. Yellow-rumped Warbler
6. White-crowned Sparrow
7. Brewer's Blackbird
8. American Goldfinch
9. Lesser Goldfinch