AUDUBON SOCIETY OF KALAMAZOO: Avian Health and Disease in Michigan

OCTOBER MONTHLY MEETING: AVIAN HEALTH AND DISEASE IN MICHIGAN

As birders, we have a great affection for birds and enjoy watching them in the field or close at hand, at feeders in our yards. The last thing we would want is to unknowingly create a situation that could result in sick birds or disease transmission. This month we are pleased to host Julie Melotti, Wildlife Biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Lab, who will update us on the current avian health issues. Her talk will cover diseases that can affect birds in Michigan and steps that you can take to mitigate disease transmission. This talk will focus on diseases spread at bird feeders like salmonellosis and mycoplasmosis, arboviruses (West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis), highly pathogenic avian influenza, botulism, and much more.

Julie Melotti started with the DNR in the disease lab as a seasonal employee in 2001 and eventually worked into a Senior Lab Technician position. In 2008, she began training under Tom Cooley, the now retired Wildlife Pathologist. When he retired, Julie became the interim Pathologist and then was offered the position permanently in March of this year. Julie has Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at MSU with a concentration in Conservation Medicine and Disease Ecology. Her primary role is performing necropsies on wild birds and mammals to determine cause of death.

We hope you’ll join us on Monday, October 23, at People’s Church, 1758 North 10th Street, Kalamazoo. Come at 7:00 PM for some refreshments and socializing. Snacks and beverages will be provided. The one-hour program will start at 7:30. Masks are recommended but not required in the church. Handicap parking and access is at either the front or the rear entrance.

This event was submitted to our community calendar page by an outside organizer and is not a Michigan Audubon event. If you have questions, please reach out to the event organizers or the contact information provided in the event description.