Yellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli
The Yellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli, is found only in California, where it helps promote healthy Oak forests by burying acorns.
Yellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli
When the West Nile Virus arrived in California in about 2004, it became a large problem for the Yellow-billed Magpie who seem to have a low level of immunity to the mosquito-carried disease. It is estimated that over half the population of this species succumbed to the disease in the next two years. The California Audubon has conducted surveys of the species and there is some evidence that the bird has rebounded in numbers. Hopefully this is because of a developing immunity.
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[...] Yellow-billed Magpies and West Nile Virus | Nature Notes [...]
Pingback by The Impact of Mosquitoes on World Health — June 7, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
What a handsome bird! I love the photos.
Comment by Hilke Breder — June 10, 2010 @ 11:21 am
Thanks Hilke,
Its a bird with a lot of attitude like a lot of the Jay family
Comment by Harold — June 10, 2010 @ 10:54 pm
I love Yellow-billed Magpies! I used to look forward to seeing them when driving between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, when I lived in California. Very sad about the effect of West Nile Virus on them; I wasn’t aware of that. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Felicia — June 11, 2010 @ 7:04 am
[...] Yellow-billed Magpies and West Nile Virus | Nature Notes [...]
Pingback by West Nile season may see no cases in humans | Download Zone — June 13, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
Thanks, Felicia
Comment by Harold — June 14, 2010 @ 10:38 pm