Hi Philip
First up, I think I should
differentiate myself from David Geering. I don't want him to take the rap
for some of my comments (that would be a new twist in the pseudonym
argument!).
I think that Peter Woodall has more expertedly
answered your query than I could. We have noticed that capture myopathy
becomes more of a problem on a hot day, when birds struggle a lot in the net,
are over-handled, and caged for long periods before processing. Godwits
and Knots seem to be the most prone to this disease. The QWSG has had some
success treating affected birds. From memory (it is quite some time since
we have cannon netted), various treatments have been tried such as administering
valium (you'd be amazed how much a bird could tolerate without being affected)
and crop-injections of a sugar solution. We have also kept badly-affected
birds in captivity for a few days before release, to allow time for the muscles
to regenerate. To minimise the incidence of capture myopathy, we try not
fire on too large a flock, as every stage of the process, from untangling to
release, is extended in time. I can remember on several occasions, we have
delayed on firing, when it has been felt that there are too many birds in the
target range.
Hi David,
You wrote of "capture
myopathy and drowning" as possible though rare terminal events in cannon
netting of waders. I am (probably like you and most of us) not against the
method, if the loss is minimal and the benefit in research or conservation is
maximised. I'm sorry but I have no idea what you mean by "myopathy" in this
context. As I think your contribution is useful, I would like to know what you
mean.
The dictionary says myopathy is a "disorder of muscle tissue
or muscles". As these are birds that have flown from the other end of the
world and are very active in their daily feeding and roosting movements, I
would think their muscles would be fairly healthy or at least not suffering
muscular disorder.
How then does the netting procedure contribute to or cause
myopathy? Also what does the statement "we won't fire a net if a flock is too
large" have to do with this?
Philip
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