1. Mark Lindberg, Brandt Meixell, & Tim Spivey Institute of Arctic Biology, UAF USGS, Alaska Science Center

2.  Anas platyrhynchos  One of the most abundant and ubiquitous ducks in North America –  25 million?

4.  Why?  Open water ▪ Warm water effluent  Feeding ▪ Timing of increase - organized feeding (1 Nov) ▪ Banding data ▪ Most Aug and Sep birds appear to migrate ▪ Diet (Stable Isotopes) ▪ Data from Anchorage (numbers and weights)

5. Fairbanks Organized Feeding (1 Nov – 1 May) ~5x Increase Since 2005 ~1/2x since 2005

6. Opportunity – Yes and No  How does bird flu affect wild birds?  Repeatedly capture individuals through winter  Influenza and antibody response  Condition (Mass)  What are costs or benefits of wintering further north?

7.  Naturally occurring Type A virus in waterbirds  Can infect poultry, other birds, other animal – rarely humans  Low and High Pathogenic forms  In humans  Mostly from poultry, no know infections from wild birds  Rarely between humans  H5N1 – 600 cases since 2003  First case in Americas (Canada – Jan 2014, recent travel to China)

8.  Monthly captures from August – May 2012- 2014  Swim-in traps and propelled nets  After Capture  Banding, measure, weigh, swabs, and blood  Release in Chena

10. Feb Mass in Anchorage ~300g lighter 2012/2013 2013/2014 1kg = 2.2lbs

12.  Analyzed at MIT  Only for 2012/13 so far  Serology - some infection during winter % Positive

13.  Number of mallards wintering on Chena have increased from organized feeding  Birds in great condition  Overfed?  AI infection low  Increased risk of disease and spread  Concentrated  Food and feces mix  avian cholera, duck plague – DVE)  Migration is OK  Concerns about domestic birds  AI transfer  Hybridization  Future of power plant  Be Informed

14.  Limited effort on Chena next year  Collaborating with ADF&G on Anchorage study  Thanks: USGS, Alaska Science Center, USFWS, Yukon Flats NWR, M. Bertram, A. Brinkman, M. Cameron, B. Lake, M. Zarzyki