Stanclova et al. 2017
Stanclova G, Schwendenwein I, Merkel O, Kenner L, Dittami J, Fritz J & Scope A (2017)
The effect of flights on hematologic parameters in Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita).
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 48(4): 1154–1164
Under the project of ‘‘Human-Led Migration,’’ the authors had the unique opportunity to accompany hand-raised Northern Bald Iibises (NBIs; Geronticus eremita) during migration, which occurred in stages from Bavaria, Germany, to southern Tuscany, Italy. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of flight, with respect to flight duration, and the more delayed recovery effects on hematologic variables. A total of 31 birds were sampled. Blood samples were taken immediately before takeoff, after landing, and 1 day after the flight. The data show that the decrease of tWBC is mainly caused by the lymphocyte fraction and that NBIs need more than 1 day to reverse the postflight changes in some hematologic values.
