By Olivia Wynkoop. Bay City News.
State wildlife officials announced that a parasitic disease has killed hundreds of native California pigeons.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said they have noticed an increase in reported sick and dead band-tailed doves since early February, primarily around California's Bay Area, the Central Coast and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
So far this winter, an estimated 200 to 3,000 pigeons have died from avian trichomoniasis, a disease mostly caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae during some winter seasons.
Infected birds develop “cheese-like” lesions in their mouths or throats, leading to starvation or suffocation, wildlife officials said. Birds with the disease may appear weak, uncoordinated and swallow repeatedly or have difficulty breathing.
Although band-tailed pigeons are more susceptible to the disease, other bird species, including their predators, can also contract avian trichomonosis.
The parasite is usually spread in water sources such as bird baths, fountains, and livestock watering troughs.
“Historically, larger outbreaks have generally been associated with drier conditions because pigeons are more likely to share a reduced number of water sources and the parasite can spread more rapidly among birds in the flock,” said Krysta Rogers, CDFW senior environmental scientist who is an avian disease specialist.
Community members can prevent disease transmission by removing bird feeders and baths, especially when pigeons are in the area.
Residents can report sightings of sick or dead pigeons through the CDFW Mortality Report Form at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
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