Post-mortem and pesticide examinations of birds in the cold spell of 1963.

Abstract

A great many birds of a wide range of species died in the cold spell which extended from 22 December 1962 until 5/6 March 1963: a total of 74 days. Of the total of 332 birds of 46 species found dead, mainly along the Hampshire/Dorset borders, 200 were examined for disease and endoparasites. In addition a small sample was submitted for toxic chemical analysis. The results of these examinations are presented in this paper; other aspects have been discussed elsewhere (Ash, 1964). Other similar surveys, few in number, have been made by Ash (1957), who examined relatively small samples in the cold spells of 1954 and 1956; by Harris (1962) who examined a large series which died on Skomer Island in January 1962, and Jones (1962) who studied the large numbers of Fieldfares which died in Anglesey at the same time.