EMC Faculty hear elusive Ivory Bill
Reports from the Ivory-billed woodpecker search in Florida are that both Dr. Diane Dieresenski and Dr. Greg Lewbart have heard what is likely to have been Ivory-billed woodpeckers. On Christmas eve the two EMC faculty were in the right place to hear what may have been the kent calls of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Tyler Hicks a member of the Auburn search team, reported a look at a female Ivory-billed Woodpecker that day. Only Drs. Lewbart and Dieresienski were with Tyler in camp. Tyler heard double knocks in early morning, and using his radio he called Greg and Diane toward the location.
Diane was first on the scene and she heard three kent calls. Things then quieted down and everyone went back to cavity surveys. An hour or so later, Greg and Diane heard four double knocks southwest of the area birds had been detected, and they called Tyler. Tyler rendezvoused with Greg and Diane and headed off in the direction they heard the double knocks.
While hiking along a narrow fast flowing channel he heard two kent calls. Tyler was hiking along the channel and it began to rain. As he came around a bend in the channel, he saw an ivorybill on the trunk of a tupelo. It was only about 40 feet away. Unfortunately no pictures were obtained.
The vocalization of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers is a brief nasally sound that is most often written as “kent”. These kent vocalizations are very distinct from the sounds of any other woodpecker in the Southeastern U.S. and distinct from the sounds of most other animals of southern swamps. Blue Jays and both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches can make ivorybill-like sounds, as can Gray Squirrels. To learn more about the expedition go to this site, and to learn about woodpecker sounds go to this site.
MacLean Promoted at Audubon
Congratulations go out to Dr. Robert MacLean (Zool. Res. ’06) who has just been promoted to the new position of Senior Veterinarian at the Audubon Park Zoo in New Orleans. Dr. MacLean sends his regards to all, but especially encouragement to the residents with assurances there is life after a residency. Hopefully his new responsibilities will leave him time to study and prepare for sitting his boards this coming fall. To contact Bob you can write to Bmaclean@auduboninstitute.org and to learn about the Audubon Park Zoo go to the Audubon Institute website.
Position Posted for New Technical Position at CMAST
At long last, the new research technician position to support EMC CVM faculty at CMAST has been posted and the search begins for a superhuman hyper skilled individual to help with the myriad of research and teaching projects being conducted at the coast by Drs. Harms, Stoskopf and Kennedy-Stoskopf.
The position will be located at the coast based out of the CMAST facility in Morehead City, NC and will work under the supervision of EMC super tech Shane Christian. The position will support all aspects of the diverse projects based at CMAST, which range from diagnostic sample handling in the marine mammal and sea turtle health projects to support of GC and advanced imaging technology used in research projects. Individuals interested in the position should apply by contacting the NCSU jobs postings site.
Annual Training Session for Wildlife Resources Commission Field Personnel
The annual drug management and immobilization training session for NC Wildlife Resources Personnel will be held February 16th at the NCWRC building on Centennial Campus. All NCWRC biologists and field personnel who are involved in emergency removal/relocation of nuisance wildlife attend the annual sessions to ensure that they re current on the latest information about the use of immobilization drugs and equipment. Dr. Michael Stoskopf, Stan Dunston and Donna Hardin conduct the half day session.
Accreditation Visits Go Well for NC Aquariums
A full year of preparations, even when interrupted by the efforts to open the newly renovated Pine Knolls Shores Aquarium this past year paid off well for the NC Aquarium Staff and the EMC faculty and residents involved with the health management of the aquarium collection.
The accreditation team from the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums was complementary of the advances the aquariums have made since their last accreditation. Dr. Craig Harms represented the EMC in the nearly week-long accreditation inspections of the three aquariums.
The inspections examine every aspect of operations of the facilities including health records and preventative health programs. The Aquarium staff should be proud of a tough job well done. The final report from the inspections is expected later this year after deliberation of the AZA accreditation committee based on the site visit team’s reports.
Mashima Transition
Our colleagues at the VA/MD College of Veterinary Medicine will be looking to fill some very big shoes soon. Dr. Ted Mashima (Wildlife Res. ’96) has been recruited away from the very innovative Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine to a position that offers him the chance to make his long held aspirations to contribute in the world of major nonprofit charitable institutions.
Though already engaged in his new role, beginning in mid-March Ted will leave the hallowed halls of academe to be the President and CEO of the Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. The fund’s offices are in Washington DC, making the transition for Ted’s family extremely easy. Founded in 2003, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the primary national organization that promotes the pursuit of higher education among Asian and Pacific Islander American students by distributing scholarships to qualified first-year undergraduate college, university, and vocational school students.
APIASF administers the Gates Millennium Scholars Program for Asian and Pacific Islander American students and has the support of major corporations including Abercrombie & Fitch, AT&T, The Asian McDonald’s Owners Association, The Boston Consulting Group, The Citigroup Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, Federal Express, the General Mills Foundation, Hilton Hotels Corporation, IW Group, Inc., Macy’s, McDonald’s Corporation, MetLife Foundation, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Nationwide, Nissan USA, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Sodexho USA, Southern California Edison, Southwest Airlines, Toyota, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Washington Mutual, and Wells Fargo.
APIASF is also supported by several major scholarship programs, including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the United Negro College Fund, the American Indian Graduate Center Scholars and, of course, the Gates Millennium Scholars/APIA. In 2006 the fund awarded $400,000 in national scholarships to 200 students, selected from among 6,000 applicants based on their demonstration of extraordinary leadership and community service and desire to pursue higher education. The fund is clearly an up and comer and its board is to be congratulated on an outstanding selection to lead them to even greater things.
Congratulations Ted! We are all here to help you when you need us.
"Nuttiers" in Raleigh
Drs Chris Whittier (PhD near future) and Felicia Nutter ( SA Intern ’95: Wildlife Res ‘ 99: PhD ’05) are both currently in Raleigh. They have been busy packing up and preparing for Felicia’s rapidly approaching transition from mountain gorilla field veterinarian and program leader in Rwanda to a marine mammal clinician at the Marine Mammal Center in California.
As challenging as that transition can be, Chris is having an even more challenging transition as he settles in to focus on completing his PhD dissertation on habitat health risk assessment of mountain gorilla – human interactions.
After having had the luxury of waking each morning in the mountains of Rwanda with the potential of working with the gorillas nearly every day, he finds himself having to settle in to a more humdrum existence of lab meetings and writing manuscripts, but seems to taking the transition with good humor and focused enthusiasm to finish up as quickly as he can.
Wildlife Pharmaceuticals “Texas” Immobilization Course Offered
EMC supporter Dr. Bill Lance announces the next “Texas Course” offered by Wildlife Pharmaceuticals. The course offers hands on experience immobilizing African and North American wildlife under the guidance of experienced experts in wildlife immobilization, Sally Davis, DVM ’07 attended the first course and gave it excellent reviews. For more information talk with Sally or go to this online PDF.
Advanced Topics in Zoological Medicine I, CBS 817 –End of Class until Next Semester.
The semester continues with a presentation by Dr. Anne Acton on her PhD research on red wolves this Thursday (January 25, 2007). The monthly quiz will be provided by Dr. Loomis. The first February session on February 1, 2007 will be a review of Invertebrate Medicine focused on terrestrial invertebrates presented by Dr. Ryan DeVoe. The sessions start at 4:15 pm in room D-239 N at the CVM and will be broadcast to the NC Zoo and CMAST.
EMC WEBSITE
Recent Funding and Publications
Silphaduang, U. , A. Colorni, E.J. Noga (2006) Evidence for widespread distribution of piscidin antimicrobial peptides in teleost fish. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 72:241-252. (Download the PDF)
Vandersea, Mark W; Litaker, R Wayne; Yonnish, Bryan; Sosa, Emilio; Landsberg, Jan H; Pullinger, Chris; Moon-Butzin, Paula; Green, Jason; Morris, James A; Kator, Howard; Noga, Edward J; Tester, Patricia A (2006 ) Molecular assays for detecting Phanomyces invadans in ulcerative mycotic fish lesions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 72(2):1551-7. (Download the PDF)
Submit your publications and grant awards to Dr. Stoskopf so they can be included in the EMC NEWS
Opportunities
Opportunities for jobs have become so numerous that it is difficult to keep the listings current. To help with that, the following links take you to listings of job opportunities that might be of interest to EMC'ers. Positions not appearing on these lists are noted individually below.
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
National Wildlife Health Center
National Wildlife Research Center
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
American Zoo and Aquarium Association
More Opportunities
Aquatic Research Technician -
The Department of Clinical Sciences, NCSU CVM is seeking a technician with diverse experience to support the research, teaching and clinical efforts of EMC faculty working out of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology. Interested individuals can apply through the NCSU online application system by going to this site
The position is rated for a salary between 27 and 32K based on experience. The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Sanibel, Florida. CROW is a non-profit wildlife hospital that provides care for over 3,400 injured and orphaned native Florida wildlife patients each year. Integrative medicine, including use of herbal therapy, homeopathy, Chinese veterinary medicine, and traditional western veterinary medicine, complements rehabilitation techniques. The position a one year internship beginning June 2007. Compensation is $10,000/year stipend and on-island housing are provided.
The intern will work alongside two full time veterinarians, a veterinary assistant, and rehabilitation staff and volunteers. Involvement will include patient admittances, treatment administration, surgery, anesthesia, necropsy, appropriate cage and diet preparation, telephone communications, and record-keeping. Learning opportunities also include after-hours emergency admittances and infant bird and mammal care. The intern will be encouraged to participate in daily rounds sessions, as well as help to teach and coordinate students, fellows, and volunteers. Contact: Amber McNamara, DVM Phone: 239-472-3644, ext. 1 Fax: 239-472-8544 Email: mcnamara_aa@yahoo.com Website: www.crowclinic.org.
Avian Influenza Program Coordinator
The Wildlife Conservation Society, a U.S. based international organization, seeks candidates for a two-year, New York-based position to coordinate and advise the Wild Bird Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS), a two-year, USAID-funded program led by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
GAINS will provide technical support and leadership in surveillance of migratory birds for avian influenza by expanding operational understanding of viral strains and transmission of influenza viruses and improving dissemination of information to all levels of the U.S. Government, international governments and organizations, international partners, and the private sector. The program requires a Technical Lead to serve as the main scientific liaison with USAID and be responsible for helping the COP to implement program priorities and approaches; oversee training and biological monitoring efforts; communicate with NGOs, governmental organization and with other institutions.
This position is based at the WCS central office at the Bronx Zoo, New York, with extensive international travel. The ideal Candidate will have a degree in veterinary medicine (DVM, VMD or equivalent), related science or an equivalent field; minimum of 5 years of experience working on international projects; demonstrated ability to work with multiple partners on collaborative projects; and Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, international organizations, NGO partners, host country and U.S. government organizations. Benefits include generous vacation, medical/dental, 401K, pension, tuition reimbursement and on-site parking. To apply, please send cover letter and salary requirements to hr@wcs.org. Please type code STTL in subject.
Senior Technical Advisor, Avian Influenza Response Coordination
GLOBAL ARD, Inc. is accepting expressions of interest from highly qualified potential candidates for a Senior Technical Advisor for a USAID-funded global highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) planning and response project. The successful candidates will advise a multi-disciplinary team of technical and administrative professionals in a world-wide response to prevent the spread of HPAI, prepare for and respond to HPAI outbreaks among animals and humans, and minimize the risk of re-infection among poultry during the recovery phase.
The activities envisioned under this project include identifying and maintaining rosters of veterinary and other related health experts, designing and implementing approaches to assist countries to respond to outbreaks, and establishing the capacity to provide operational and logistical support to technical experts and teams working in response to HPAI. The project is anticipated to run for three years.
REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of graduate level degree in veterinary medicine, science or an equivalent field; Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience working on international projects; Demonstrated ability to work with multiple partners on collaborative projects; Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with senior Government personnel, International Organization, NGO partners, host country and U.S. government organizations; Demonstrated ability to design and implement training programs dealing with technical subjects; Demonstrated ability to provide logistical and operational support for emergency overseas deployments; Proven ability to provide deliverables on time and within budget; English fluency. TO APPLY: Please e-mail full, current curriculum vitae (CV) in reverse chronological format, to ehughes@ardinc.com or fax to E. Hughes at 802-658-4247. Please refer to AI -STA in subject line. Candidates meeting the qualifications detailed above will be contacted. No phone calls, please. There is no closing date. U.S. citizenship is not required. ARD, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Support the EMC through IGIVE.COM
If you shop online for anything at all, consider joining igive.com and shopping through them. If you register your preference to help the Environmental Medicine Consortium, a small percentage of the amount of each of your purchases is returned to the Environmental Medicine operating fund. Even the little purchases add up, and it is relatively painless. The cost of your purchase is the same. Participating stores simply make donations based on your purchase amounts.
If you join iGive.com and make a purchase within 45 days from one of 642 or so participating stores, iGive.com will donate an additional $5 FREE to the EMC.
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