Birds

Helping avian health research take flight

Morris Animal Foundation funded its first veterinary research study for birds in 1985; it looked at the use of anesthesia. Since then, we have funded many avian health studies for these feathered friends. Here are a few recent successes.

• Improving Pain Management for Parrots: Our understanding and treatment of painful conditions in birds has improved considerably in recent years. With Morris Animal Foundation funding, scientists from the University of Wisconsin and University of California-Davis learned more about the effectiveness of an analgesic in parrots. Read more. 
• Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on Nestlings: With Foundation-funding, researchers at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Argentina documented that specific changes in climate are associated with an increase in parasites that harm nestlings in some South American regions. Read more.
• Proving West Nile Virus Prevention Concept Sound: Although birds naturally concentrate antibodies in their egg yolks, which passively protect the chicks after hatching, it was previously unknown whether a bird immune to WNV can passively protect her offspring through these antibodies. Researchers from the United States Geological Society proved this concept correct. Read more.

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