Bird Ecology and Conservation A Handbook of Techniques

Table 8.5

(continued)

Samples

Available from

Comments

Droppings (mixture of feces and

Both live birds (recently v

oided

Droppings provide a means of diagnosing some diseases and obta

ining

urates, as voided) for parasitology

droppings) and dead bir

ds (removed

health monitoring data with minimal disturbance t

o the live bird.

and other tests

from the cloaca

postmortem

)

Droppings will often be passed when a bird is handled or restrained in abag or net. The fecal component can be used to detect internal par

asites,

to provide information on other changes in the intestine (e.g. presenceof blood, undigested food, etc.) or to investigate the origin of recentl

y

ingested food items. Feces can also be used to detect bacteria, fungi, andviruses. Molecular techniques, for example, PCR, are increasingly beingused to detect the antigens of pathogenic organisms and to provideother information based on DNA technology. The urate component offeces can be used to investigate kidney function and may also yield parasites associated with the renal system. In all cases fresh sample

s

provide the most reliable results

Stomach (or crop) contents

Usually from dead birds but

As above (feces): also provide information on diet. Stimulation of

stomach/crop washings can be obtained

regurgitation m

ust be carried out with care and in occordance with any

from live birds—or regurgitation can be

legal or ethical r

equirements

stimulated by physical or chemical means. The cast pellets of birds of prey and certain other species can provide valuable information