Avian Disease Prevention
Quick links:
How to Become a Volunteer • Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley • 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
How to Become a Volunteer • Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley • 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
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Since 1982, we've helped prevent the spread of avian botulism and other avian diseases. Botulism is caused by the toxin Clostridium botulinum which occurs naturally within bacteria in anaerobic soil, and infected birds may eventually become paralyzed. However, birds rescued in the early stages of the disease respond well to treatment with a 70% recovery rate.
Each year from June through November, our biologists and volunteers travel through the South Bay's Artesian and Guadalupe Sloughs by boat to search for injured, sick, or dead birds and other species such as fish. We bring the animals we recover to be treated or (in the case of dead animals) analyzed at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. |
Through our Strategic Plan we aim to expand the use of our data and research, and engage with other scientific communities and resource-management agencies, to address climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental issues. We hope you will join our community of scientists, resource managers, and environmental organizations by using our data and analysis to better understand how birds are doing and find ways to promote sustainability in your community.
Jump to the following sections: Impact of Our Work, Information About Avian Diseases, Get Involved, and Thanks to Our Supporters.
Jump to the following sections: Impact of Our Work, Information About Avian Diseases, Get Involved, and Thanks to Our Supporters.
Impact of Our Work
Our work has helped avoid outbreaks of avian botulism and other diseases in the South Bay and we rescue a number of birds each year that are cared for and released back into the wild by our partners at the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. We share updates about this work with our San Jose and Sunnyvale city partners.
Information About Avian Diseases and Wildlife Rehabilitation
Click on the links below to view information about avian diseases and wildlife rehabilitation. For information about the Avian Disease and Prevention Program, please contact Science Director Nathan Van Schmidt at [email protected].
- Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - Ohlone Humane Society
- Lindsey Wildlife Center
- Wildlife Care Center - Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA
- International Bird Rescue
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network
- Avian Botulism
- SFBBO Wildlife Records Science Talk by Science Director Gabbie Burns - 2019
Get Involved
Volunteer - Attend an orientation and help our biologists search South Bay sloughs by boat for dead, diseased, and injured birds on weekdays June-November by becoming a volunteer.
Donate - Make a positive impact for birds and habitats by giving generously to SFBBO. Every donation we receive is wisely invested in our mission.
Learn - Learn about birds and bird conservation by participating in our environmental education programs, please contact [email protected].
Share - Share our story by covering our work in your publication. Please contact Outreach and Communications Director Kristin Butler at [email protected] to learn more.
Donate - Make a positive impact for birds and habitats by giving generously to SFBBO. Every donation we receive is wisely invested in our mission.
Learn - Learn about birds and bird conservation by participating in our environmental education programs, please contact [email protected].
Share - Share our story by covering our work in your publication. Please contact Outreach and Communications Director Kristin Butler at [email protected] to learn more.
Thanks to Our Volunteers and Supporters
Thank you to the volunteers who participate in this program from June through November each year, and to funders from the City of San Jose and City of Sunnyvale.