Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

This announcement solicits proposals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS’s) Avian Health and Disease Program. Recurring common eider mortality events have been occurring along the inner coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts from 1998-2011. Common eiders are a USFWS Focal Species, and Cape Cod/Nantucket Sound represents an area in which a large number of common eiders are known to migrate through, stage and overwinter. Agencies and universities have been working collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services and the National Park Service to determine the cause of mortality and the potential implications to common eider populations. During FY11, veterinary diagnostic laboratories have determined the cause of mortality to be a previously unidentified orthomyxovirus, which has tentatively been named the Wellfleet Bay Virus (WFBV) for the location along Cape Cod in which the die-off events are concentrated. To date, common eiders are the only species to have documented disease associated with WFBV. Ongoing and proposed research to address this emerging disease issue includes several concurrent investigations. Please see attachment for a full description of the program objectives and instructions for application.

Who can apply

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education

Contact

Chris Dwyer <br/>Migratory Game Bird Biologist <br/>Regional Avian Health and Disease Coordinator <br/>Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br/>300 Westgate Center Drive <br/>Hadley, MA 01035-9589 <br/>Phone (413) 253-8706; Fax (413) 253-8424 <br/>www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/avianhealth.html <br/>
Chris_Dwyer@fws.gov