10 March 10
Mallard Tests
Last week the Wildlife Health Center here at UC Davis trapped and examined 22 mallards. They were actually all mallard hybrids except for two, fat and with poorly developed flight muscles — and lesions on their feet that are common among heavy birds that walk on gravel a lot.
The study is looking for signs of avian influenza as part of a Pacific flyway monitoring system. I was able to go and see a couple of the captures. These birds are used to being fed but even so were surprisingly hard to catch.
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