[SEMCO] [Mass Audubon] Dying Eiders: Discovery the Wellfleet Bay Virus

[Melissa Lowe Cestaro]

Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
invites you to
Dying Eiders: Discovering the Wellfleet Bay Virus
Sarah Courchesne, DVM

Saturday, January 12, 11 a.m. - Noon

Join Sarah Courchesne, DVM and Project Director of the Seabird Ecological Assessment, Network for an in-depth look at the newly discovered virus that may play a prominent role in the mortality of common eiders, which have often been found dead during late summer and early fall along the bayside beaches of Cape Cod. Learn more about the role of citizen scientists in quantifying the impact of the mortality and its geographic range, and learn how you can become involved in the research.

For decades, Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) have been found dead during late summer and early fall along the bayside beaches of Cape Cod. Only within the last few years has a partnership between the U.S. government, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations revealed a potential cause. A newly discovered virus, named for the Bay where it was detected, may play a prominent role in the die-offs. Wellfleet Bay Virus is now at the frontline of infectious disease research in the Northeast. Scientists have relied on reports of dead eiders from volunteer "citizen scientists" all over Cape Cod to quantify the impact of the mortality, and its geographic range. We need many more volunteers to fill in considerable gaps in our data. This presentation will outline the die-off investigation and also give interested individuals the information they need to join the ranks of SEANET's citizen scientists.

$5 members/ $7 nonmembers; pre-registration is required.

And please join us at 1 p.m. on the same day for In Search of Winter Sea Ducks. Science Coordinator Mark Faherty will help us look at eiders and other sea ducks up-close during this visit to Wellfleet Harbor (or an ocean beach, depending on recent sightings). (7 members/ $9 nonmembers; pre-registration is required.)

Please call to reserve a space in advance: 508.349.2615, or register online at: Dying Eiders: http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=1171-WF13WI1
In Search of Winter Sea Ducks: http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=1172-WF13WI1

  Our January/ February program brochure can be viewed here: http://www.massaudubon.org/PDF/newsletters/Wellfleet_Bay_243.pdf


Please let me know if you have any questions, or suggestions about future programs.
I hope to see you at the sanctuary soon!

Best wishes,
Amy


Amy Fleischer, Education Director/ Public Programs Coordinator
Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
PO Box 236, South Wellfleet, MA 02663
afleischer at massaudubon.org<mailto:afleischer at massaudubon.org>
508-349-2615, ext 114
Office Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Protecting the Nature of Massachusetts
www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay<http://www.massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay>

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