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In January 2021, Senegal reported the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A(H5N1), which was detected on a poultry farm in Thies, Senegal, and in great white pelicans in the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary. We report evidence of new transcontinental spread of H5N1 from Europe toward Africa.

The nutrients imported by breeding waterbirds should be considered when identifying the main sources of nutrient input to lakes. Lake Lesser Prespa (Greece), including the adjacent Vromolimni pond, hosts numerous protected waterbirds that nest in densely populated colonies across the reedbeds. The accelerated eutrophication of the lake in recent years has been of increasing concern. In addition to likely large sources of nutrients (i.e., anthropogenic activities, especially agriculture), nutrient input via waterbird excrement may further trigger eutrophication. We estimated the annual phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) input by the most abundant colonial-nesting waterbirds (great white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, great cormorant, and pygmy cormorant) into the lake and investigated their influence on water and sediment quality. Near the waterbird colonies, soluble nutrient concentrations in the lake sediments were higher, and chlorophyll measurements indicated higher algal growth near these sites in summer. Stable isotope analysis suggests that near the colonies, waterbirds are responsible for nutrient loadings that affect the lake sediment. The estimated N and P nutrient input into the lake by both pelican and cormorant species is at least 1243 and 1649 kg/yr, respectively. On a landscape scale, this level of loading could be of minor importance for the lake because N and P can reach 32.8 (SD 9.3) and 38.9 (5.8) mg/m2 per year, respectively. Locally, however, this level of loading might induce cyanobacterial blooms, illustrated by the analysis of isolated Vromolimni pond near the lake. Our findings emphasize the likely importance of nutrient loading by waterbirds for the lake system.

In Bulgaria part of fish farming is through using extensive production technologies. Most of the dams used for fish production are located in the lowlands of the country and are the natural habitats of herons, cormorants and pelicans. Thus these birds are considered to be pests in extensive aqua production. To clarify whether in fact the owners and workers in fish farms obey the law with regard to fish-eating birds, an anonymous survey among 80 fish producers was conducted between January and August 2014. The positive and negative responses were expressed as a percentage. The economic factor determined the negative attitude of owners towards fish-eating birds. The lack of motivation for conservation of protected bird species was due to non-payment of compensations from the government.

Background Drones are reliable tools for estimating colonial seabird numbers. Although most research has focused on methods of improving the accuracy of bird counts, few studies have evaluated the impacts of these methods on bird behavior. In this study, we examined the effects of the DJI Phantom 3 drone approach (altitude, horizontal and vertical descent speeds) on changes in the intensity of behavioral response of guano birds: guanay cormorants (Phalacrocorax bougainvilli), Peruvian boobies (Sula variegata) and Peruvian pelicans (Pelecanus thagus). The breeding and non-breeding condition was also evaluated. Methods Eleven locations along the Peruvian coast were visited in 2016–2017. Drone flight tests considered an altitude range from 5 to 80 m from the colony level, a horizontal speed range from 0.5 to 15 m/s, and a vertical descent speed range from 0.5 to 3 m/s. The intensity of the behavioral response of birds was scored and categorized as: 0-no reacting, 1-head pointing to the drone (HP), 2-wing flapping (WF), 3-walking/running (WR) and 4-taking-off/flying (TK). Drone noise at specific altitudes was recorded with a sound meter close to the colony to discriminate visual from auditory effects of the drone. Results In 74% of all test flights (N = 507), guano birds did not react to the presence of the drone, whereas in the remaining flights, birds showed a sign of discomfort: HP (47.7%, N = 130), WF (18.5%), WR (16.9%) and TK (16.9%). For the drone approach tests, only flight altitude had a significant effect in the intensity of the behavioral response of guano birds (intensity behavioral response N = 420). No significant differences were observed in the drone noise at different flight altitudes because the background noise of the colony was as loud as the drone. Conclusions It is feasible to use the drone DJI Phantom 3 for surveys on the guano islands of Peru. We recommend performing drone flights at altitudes greater than 50 m from guano bird colonies and to select take-off spots far from gulls. Likewise, this study provides a first step to develop guidelines and protocols of drone use for other potential activities on the Peruvian guano islands and headlands such as surveys of other seabirds and pinnipeds, filming and surveillance.

İlgün, Ramazan ( Aksaray, Yazar ), Bu çalışmada, Tepeli pelikanlarda bacak kemiklerindeki farklılıklar diğer kanatlı türleriyle karşılaştırılarak incelendi. Çalışmada, 2014-2016 yılları arasında Aksaray bölgesi gölet ve sazlık arazilerinden köylüler tarafından Aksaray Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Klinik, Teşhis ve Analiz Laboratuvarına getirilen çeşitli sebeplerden ölmüş üç adet erişkin (3 adet dişi) tepeli pelikan incelendi. Kemiklerin maserasyonu, maserasyon tekniklerine uygun olarak yapıldı. Bacak kemikleri os coxae, femur, patella, tibiotarsus, fibula ve ossa digitorum pedis kemiklerinden meydana getirmekteydi. Ossa tarsi kemikleri tespit edilemedi. Femur, kısa vaziyette tibia’nın yaklaşık 3/4’ü uzunluğundaydı. Femur’un distal kısmnda patella, sulcus patellaris olarak tibiotarsus’un proksimal’inde oval olarak yer almaktaydı. Tibiotarsus’un caput tibiae kısmında crista cnemialis cranialis ve crista cnemialis lateralis adında keskin ve dışbükey iki çıkıntı bulunmaktaydı. Tarsometatarsus kemiği rudimenter olan os metatarsale I ile esas metatarsus kemiğini oluşturan os metatarsale II, os metatarsale III ve os metatarsale IV ile tarsal kemiklerin distal sırasında yer alan kemiklerin birleşmesinden oluşmaktaydı. Tepeli pelikanlarda medial’den lateral’e doğru ossa digitorum pedis kemikleri olarak dört parmak tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak, Aksaray bölgesindeki Tepeli pelikanların makroanatomik yapısı diğer kanatlı türlerinden farklı özelliklere sahipti., In this study, differences in the hind limb bones of crested pelicans in comparison to other avian species were assessed. In the study, cadavers of 3 adult female crested pelicans which died due to the different reasons were used. The samples originated from the ponds and reedy lands in Aksaray region and were submitted by the villagers to Aksaray University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Clinic, Diagnosis, and Analysis Lab. Maceration of bones were done according to the maceration techniques. The hind limb skeleton was formed by os coxae, femur, patella, tibiotarsus, fibula, ossa digitorum pedis. Ossa tarsi bones were not observed. Femur was short and has a length of approximately 3/4 of the length of tibia. On the distal part of femur, patella with its sulcus patellaris were present elliptically on the proximal of tibiotarsus. Two sharp and convex protrusions named crista cnemialis cranialis and crista cnemialis lateralis on the part of caput tibia of the tibiotarsus were present . Tarsometatarsus bone was formed by the fusion of the rudimentary os metatarsale I and the bones os metatarsale II, III, V forming the main metatarsus bone, and the distal tarsal bones. In crested pelicans four digits from medial to lateral as ossa digitorum pedis were observed. As a result, the macroanatomical structure of crested pelicans in the Aksaray region had distinct features from other bird species.

On March 25, 2015, a highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses were isolated from the carcasses of a 3 Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) in Bulgaria. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and H5N1-specific real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) analysis showed, that the H5 and N1 avian influenza virus was presented in the lung, trachea, proventriculus, cloaca and brain tissue of the dalmatian pelicans. Subsequent sequence analysis found the following motif of basic amino acids at the cleavage site of hemagglutinin: PQRERRRKRGLF, which is characteristic of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Phylogenetic analysis of a part from segment 4 of A/dalmatian pelican/ Sreburna/Bulgaria/2015 (H5N1) showed a close genetic relationship with influenza viruses A (H5N1) clade 2.3.2.1. Тhe establishment of HPAI H5N1 in 2015, belonging to the genetic clade 2.3.2.1, circulating in Southeast Asia and in Bulgaria for the second time since 2010, shows the great potential for the trans-continental distribution of the virus and its ability to cause not only epizootic outbreaks, but also panzootic waves

Wildlife disease investigations may help reduce zoonotic infections., West Nile virus (WNV)–associated deaths of American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) chicks have been recognized at various nesting colonies in the United States since 2002. We evaluated American white pelican nesting colonies in Sheridan County, Montana, USA, for an association between WNV-positive pelican carcasses and human West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Persons in counties hosting affected colonies had a 5× higher risk for disease than those in counties with unaffected colonies. We also investigated WNV infection and blood meal source among mosquitoes and pelican tissue type for greatest WNV detection efficacy in carcasses. WNV-infected Culex tarsalis mosquitoes were detected and blood-engorged Cx. tarsalis contained pelican DNA. Viral loads and detection consistency among pelican tissues were greatest in feather pulp, brain, heart, and skin. Given the risks posed to wildlife and human health, coordinated efforts among wildlife and public health authorities to monitor these pelican colonies for WNV activity are potentially useful.

Predation and competition are natural ecological processes, though these interactions occasionally cause concern among humans when ecosystem services are involved (e.g., popular fisheries in highly managed systems). The population of American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at Strawberry Reservoir (Utah) has increased dramatically in the last decade, as have the populations of Utah sucker (Catostomus ardens) and Utah chub (Gila atraria). Anglers and managers are concerned that predation by pelicans and competition from non-game fish species are negatively impacting the reservoir's prized Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii utah) fishery. My project focused on non-game fishes and is part of a larger project examining potential pelican predation on fishes, with an emphasis on cutthroat trout. Our goals included assessing potential for net bias, estimating age-class structure and body condition of non-game fishes, and beginning investigations of the relative impact pelicans have on the non-game fishes of the reservoir. During the 2014 field season, we caught multiple species of fishes using trap nets and gill nets, measured all captured fishes, conducted counts of the pelican population, and gathered pelican diet samples. Using a Kolmogorov-Smimov test we determined that gill nets are biased towards larger fishes. Based on length-weight regressions and Fulton's K factor, we observed higher body condition for Utah chub relative to Utah sucker. By identifying dominant modes of size-frequency distributions and comparing the modes to age-at-length data from previous studies, we estimated that captured Utah chub are age-1 and older, while captured Utah sucker are age-4 and older. We also evaluated the relationships between the number of pelicans and the catch-per-unit-effort of fishes at four different locations in the reservoir, and observed no clear relationship. These results will provide useful information for fish population modeling in the future, for informing the next and final season of field data collection, and ultimately for critical management decisions for both birds and fishes in the reservoir.

Ostrich 2004, 75(3): 168

ÖZET Tepeli pelicanların (Pelecanus crispus) ekolojileri ve davranışları üzerine çok az bilgi vardır, özellikle de, üreme biyolojileri (kuluçka ve palazlanma süreleri, üreme başarıları), göç ve popülasyon dinamikleri ile ilgili. Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye'deki Tepeli pelicanlar üzerine daha fazla bilgi toplamak ve mevcut bilgiyle birleştirerek, önemli pelikan habitatları üzerindeki tehditleri ortaya çıkarıp, etkin bir koruma ve yönetim planının hazırlanması için birtakım öneriler getirmektir. Dokümanda yer alan bilgiler çoğunlukla mevcut araştırmalara dayanmaktadır. Konu edilen alanların tümüne (Akşehir Gölü hariç) 1991 yılından bu yana, sukuşları sayımları, pelikan halkalama çalışmaları ve önemli habitatların ortaya çıkarılabilmesi için çeşitli defalarda ziyarette bulunulmuştur. Alanlarda pelikanları olumsuz yönde etkileyen faktörlerden bazıları; 0 lagünlerdeki sığlaşma ve artan tuzluluğa bağlı olarak balık veriminin düşmesi sonucu pelikanların besin kaynaklarının azalması, O sulak alanların ve doğal su dengesinin bozulması,. balıkçıların, avcıların ve turistlerin pelikanları rahatsız etmeleri, O kanunsuz çalıştırılan balık çiftlikleri pelikanları balık havuzlarına çekecek, ve dolayısıyla da çiftlik sahiplerinin düşmanca tavırlarına maruz kalmalarına sebep olacaktır,. sazlıkların yakılarak ve kesilerek tahrip edilmesi olarak sıralanabilir. IV ABSTRACT There are a few detailed studies on the ecology and behavior of Pelecanus crispus, in particular, on breeding biology (incubation and fledging periods, breeding success), migration, and population dynamics. The aim of this study is to provide more information and to incorporate all existing information on the Dalmatian Pelican in Turkey, to indicate the threats on the important pelican habitats and recommend measures for its protection, as a first step for the preparation of an effective conservation and management of this globally threatened species. The information included in this document is largely based on the existing literature. On the other hand, several visits were carried to all the described sites (except Lake Akşehir) since 1991, in order to perform censuses, ringing, and to identify the important habitats. Some of the major threats affecting pelicans are; 6 increasing salinity and shallowing of lagoons which results in loss of food source for pelicans. Disturbance is minimum when compared with other sites,. degradation of wetlands and disruption of natural water flow,. disturbance caused by fishermen, hunters and tourists, 0 fish farms which operate illegally may attract pelicans and may generate bad treatment of fishermen in turn,. reed cutting and burning. m 121