SOP for Working with Small Birds
Contents
1. Flinders University School of Biological Sciences Standard Operating Procedure For Working with Small Birds Animal House SOP Number AWC approval date BELGY SOP BIOL 3 th 08 2015 Birds 16 June 2015 August2015 Contact Person SOP prepared by Review Date Leslie Morrison Leslie Morrison June 2018 Legislation Section 115 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 Animal Welfare Act 1985 Animal Welfare Regulations 2012 Work Health and Safety Act 2012 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 University policy Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Policy NH amp MRC Guidelines Local policy Use of the Biological Sciences Animal Facilities by all staff and students of the School of Biological Sciences Flinders University of S A is subject to awareness of and adherence to the following Research Involving Animals a The University holds a licence for the use of animals for teaching and research purposes To satisfy the requirements of the licence anyone wishing to undertake teaching and research using animals must submit a proposal to the Biological Sciences Animal Welfare Sub Committee No work with animals may commence until written approval has been received from the Animal Welfare Committee AWC Standardised application forms for Laboratory Teaching and Wildlife work with animals can be found on the Flinders University Animal We2. Mist netting Setting up mist nets e Place nets close enough to each other that a person can visit all net locations in a maximum of 10 15 minutes walking preferably less if no birds are caught On flat level terrain this array would be about 0 5 0 6 miles 800 1000 m in length e In order to operate nets properly the trammels the horizontal shelf strings that support the net should be taut horizontally These can be arranged at 120 angles to the net with one end secured to the pole and the other to nearby rocks bushes or stakes e When operated the netting material should not be stretched apart to its full extent but should allow some slack between the trammel lines otherwise birds will bounce off the tight net e When closing a net spin it to keep it from unravelling e Nets are commonly put in cloth bags To take down the net it is rolled up on small folds and put into the bag as the biologist moves from one end of the net towards the other Time of Day and Number of Checks e Nets should be opened within 15 minutes of local sunrise and closed within 15 minutes before sunset e Nets should be checked every 20 minutes more often in inclement or very hot weather e The nets should not be operated in rain wind and extreme heat If already open when these conditions occur they should be closed because precipitation is heavy enough for the birds feathers to become wet enough to lose their insulation e Be aware of
3. e Wear shoes at all times not thongs e Prior to submitting an application to the AWC you must discuss space requirements with the Animal House Manager Available facilities can then be matched to your project with consideration of compatibility with other users temperature light cycle housing type length of project etc e Report any health issues and animal incidents to the Animal House Manager and Animal Welfare Officer promptly either in person by phone or email and record details in the Communication book e An Animal Incident is anything that happens to the animal and or its environment not detailed and approved in the ethics application e No animals can be housed in the facilities until your project has approval from the Animal Welfare Committee if required and you have a confirmed booking with appropriate housing for the animals signed and submitted to the Animal House Manager e Prior to animals arriving your space must set up housing ready and food and equipment organised Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 3 of 39 Quarantine Housing and Monitoring Wash hands before and after handling birds All animals must be assessed by experienced staff and confirmed as healthy prior to transport to the Animal House A visual examination is sufficient examination should be consistent with parameters on animal monitoring records and smal
4. if processing becomes delayed it is always preferred to have the birds out of the nets and stored in bags Processing Birds e Do not hold for longer than 60 minutes If there appears to be adverse effects from the capture such as apathy gently drip glucose water across the bill e Bags should be made from opaque cloth and sewn so that the seams and possible loose threads that can catch toes are outside e Hang bags from hooks or branches to prevent them from being stepped on and out of direct sunlight e Bags should be washed regularly Releasing Birds e Close the nets before releasing the birds to prevent recapturing already processed birds e Release birds immediately after processing at the site of capture more than three metres away from the net Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 17 of 39 Administering medication Considerable between strain and between animal variation may occur when using anaesthetics investigators must research the species they are working with for current recommendations Veterinary recommendations listed below Species Dose and Route Chemical restraint agent Most species Facemask Isoflurane in O2 Intramuscular or Intraperitoneal Alfaxalone Most species 10 30mg kg Considerable between strain and between animal variation may occur when using drugs investigators must research the species they are
5. again on the same day a second attempt will be made on the following day e When observing behavioural responses to the playback stimulus remain at least 10 20 metres from the speaker and nest hidden in vegetation e Playback stimuli are usually 30 180 seconds long played at a natural rate for a predetermined length of time depending on the experimental design and stimulus type e Remove playback gear from under the nest once playback trial is over or if parent birds and or nestling behaviour changes General Radiotracking e In order to identify how individuals use and move within their environment some captured birds will be tracked using radiotelemetry e tis generally assumed that radio marking will have some effects on the animal but efforts can be made to minimise marking effects so that they do not disrupt the normal movements and behaviour of the marked individual e Detrimental effects of radio marking can be reduced by 1 Minimising capture and handling time 2 Using the smallest possible radio transmitter suitable for the objectives of the study and 3 Using the most inconspicuous and best fitting attachment method available e Ensure the entire transmitter and attachments do not exceed 5 of the individual s body mass Birds Radio Tracking Equipment familiarisation Radio tracking involves the use of three devices 1 Transmitter This is attached to the animal and emits a VHF signal at a pre se
6. and or camouflage cloth to ensure it is not noticed by the parent birds Monitor the nest after setting up the recorder until the parent birds return to ensure the nest is not disturbed If the audio recorder is not accepted after 20 minutes parent birds have not returned to the nest remove the recorder and do not try again on the same day a second attempt will be made on the following day Leave the audio recorder for an appropriate time to record the vocalisations of the focal birds Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 32 of 39 At the Nest cont Remove the audio recorder from in or next to the nest if o Sufficient number of vocalisations have been recorded o Audio recorder has been at the nest for an appropriate time o Parent birds and or nestling behaviour changes o Poor weather conditions wind raining etc Birds Audio Playback Record and or select vocalisations with good signal to noise ratio and no overlapping sounds to use as playback stimuli Create stimulus tracks using an appropriate program e g Amadeus Raven Select an appropriate sample rate and bit depth for the playback stimulus e g 16 bit 44 1kHz wav files and ensure the stimulus track is an uncompressed wave file Upload playback stimulus onto playback gear e g iPod Fox pro Scorpion playback system Test all playback gear and stimulus to ensure it works and i
7. predators e g ants or birds of prey around nets to ensure trapped birds are not at risk of injury or death from predators Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 14 of 39 Mist netting cont e First take the time necessary to figure out exactly how the bird went into the net e Observe carefully from which side the bird entered the net and between which trammels it went in order to find the opening of the pocket the bird made Start on the side of the net that the bird entered part the trammels and netting loosely and look into the pocket caused by the weight of the bird Because the tail is the last to enter look at its position to get a clue about how the bird entered the net e After determining where the bird entered remove the bird with the first feet method Feet First Method 1 Find out from which side of the net the bird entered Find the opening of the pocket caused by the weight of the bird 2 If you the bander are right handed grasp both tibiae the tibia is the feathered part of the leg above the bare tarsus from the rear of the bird using your left hand so that your fingers point towards the bird s head The bird should be upside down in the net when you have your grip see image below 3 Put your index finger between the tibiae and press your thumb against the bird s right tibia and your middle finger against the left tibi
8. spray and sponges and a dustpan broom and bin Surfaces and floors should be wiped down and mopped a minimum of once per week in conventional rooms Quarantine rooms must be wiped down and swept daily and mopped a minimum of once per week Any variation in the enclosures currently available for housing must be approved as part of your application to the AWC including a photo or detailed description Cage design must not compromise animal health and welfare monitoring Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 5 of 39 Birds Transport e Food and water should be available before and during transport Water should be in a sturdy container designed for transport or containing cotton wool to prevent water slop e All animals should be assessed by Researcher or other person suitably familiar with the species of animal being transported and confirmed as healthy prior to transport A visual examination is sufficient examination should be consistent with parameters on animal monitoring records and small bird assessment checklist e Any bird with a clinical record sheet should not be transported without consultation first with the Animal Welfare Officer and the Animal House Manager Contact details are listed at the end of all Standard Operating Procedures e Strongly sexually dimorphic birds should be transported individually or in established pairs social groups eg
9. 15 Animal House Manager Page 22 of 39 Euthanasia cont By placing a thumb on the vein below injection site the vein will bulge making insertion of the needle easier Note the parallel angle of the needle By drawing back slightly on the syringe and observing blood enter the syringe you can be confident the needle is in the jugular vein and proceed to deliver the dose of Nembutal for euthanasia Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 23 of 39 Blood sampling General e Wash hands with disinfectant before and after handling birds e Refer to Standard Operating procedure for Animal Handling and Safe work procedure for administering medication animal handling e Persons without previous experience sampling must receive training and supervision from an individual experience in blood sampling small birds including chicks How and when this will be achieved must be included in your application to the Animal Welfare Committee e You must provide from previous experience and or references information as to whether there is any risk to the health of chicks from blood sampling or the potential for parental rejection Small birds e Blood may be taken from the right sided jugular vein the medial metatarsal vein and the brachial vein e It is recommended larger volumes are taken from the jugular e g for hormone or nutrition analysis due to its accessi
10. a This leaves your right hand free to remove net strands from the entangled legs and feet 4 Most importantly make certain that all threads are pulled down and off tibiae and thighs below the heel joint the prominent joint between the tibia and tarsus These threads are sometimes high up on the thigh at the flank 5 Untangle the toes by pulling strands gently You will notice that if the heel joint is straightened out the bird s toes have a tendency to relax so that the netting can be more easily removed If the bird is clutching the net firmly extract the feet by 1 first freeing the opposable toe the thumb by sliding the threads over it and lifting it away from the other toes 2 with the fingers straightening the other three toes out and 3 sliding the netting over the toes with repeated strokes Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 15 of 39 Mist netting Removing birds from nets 6 Pull the bird up and away from the net still holding the bird upside down by the feathered tibiae above the bare tarsus Flick net threads from the bend of the wings working from the underside Generally the thumb should be placed under the thread s on the underside of the wing and the forefinger placed on the outer bend of the wing as a fulcrum to flick the thread over Often at this stage it is helpful to pull gently on the exposed portions of the still t
11. al ethics manage cfm e All unexpected deaths must be necropsied e The Animal House Manager and AWO will work with you in the short term to stabilise the situation and maintain the animals until the AWC has reviewed the incident and decided whether the incident is e Anunexpected adverse event and the project may continue unmodified e Anunexpected adverse event and the project may continue with modifications or e An expected adverse event and whether or not the project can continue and if modifications are required SOP Review This SOP currently applies to the animals housed in the Biological Sciences Animal House facilities and field sites This SOP will be reviewed 3 yearly but also updated more frequently as policies techniques and animal care requirements change Any questions regarding the above guidelines and any technical advice assistance required can be directed to Animal House Manager Position Name Contact Details Animal House Manager Leslie Morrison X 12196 Office in Animal House Leslie morrison flinders edu au Animal Welfare Officer Lewis Vaughan 0450 424 143 awo flinders edu au Useful References e http Awww pir sa gov au fishing permits and exemptions e http www nhmrc gov au e http www adelaide edu au ANZCCART e http www australiananimalwelfare com au content aquatic animals aquatic animal welfare quidelines e http www environment sa gov au e http www env
12. also has a tiny archway at the back for the cable connecting the microphone to the recorder Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 30 of 39 Monitoring heart Rate in Nestlings small birds e Wash hands before and after handling birds Remove lid e Hide condenser microphone in the middle of the cotton balls in the artificial nest so that only the top of the microphone will be visible e Check for presence of nestling by inserting one finger inside the nest and gently touching the bottom of the nest count the number of nestlings by touch e To remove nestlings close hand gently around the nestling and position the nestling so it is sitting in the palm of the hand with the fingers slightly closed on top to protect the nestling e Remove hand from nest and place the nestling in the artificial nest resting against the microphone Replace the protective lid on top of the nest and start recording heart rate When finished open nest collect the nestling and return it to its original nest e f collecting data from more than one nestling per nest remove second nestling before returning the first nestling Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 31 of 39 General Bird audio recording and Check and test all audio recording equipment microphone audio recorder charged b
13. angled threads in order to free them or to see where they are caught 7 When both wings are free pull remaining loops from around the neck working from the back of the head forward Be sure to secure the bill by placing the thumb against the tip while pulling the net over the head in order to protect the delicate neck Processing Birds e After removing the bird from the net safely hold then firmly place palm over upper back of the body and fingers over the head and use the thumb and index finger to restrain side to side head movement this is known as the banders grip e Take care not to apply pressure to the chest and abdomen as this will restrict Note that restraining the head will prevent biting gentley hold torso so that the chest and keel are not compressed fig from Everybird Macwhirter P 1994 Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 16 of 39 Mist netting e Once the birds are removed from the nets put each individual in a separate small cloth bag and transport to the processing site e Have a central processing site rather than to process birds at each net as they are captured because 1 a biologist rapidly circulating around the nets can better monitor the captures in case of an influx of birds that might necessitate shutting down some nets temporarily and 2 it lessens the disturbance in the vicinity of the nets Further
14. antennas at least 2m away from other objects especially those that are large or metal as these objects will cause detuning of the antenna e Use high points in the landscape wherever possible including hills or even tree stumps e Be familiar with your study area Avoid sources of interference e g rocky outcrops cliffs radio communication towers large metal structures or objects etc e Navigate to a listening point preferably a high point in the landscape It is usually best to begin listening for a transmitter where it was last known to be present e Connect the antenna to the receiver and ensure the arms of the antenna are perpendicular to the main shaft e Listen for a signal by holding the antenna up and swinging slowly around 360 degrees e fa signal can t be heard o Check that the frequency is tuned correctly o Try holding the antenna in different positions vertical and horizontal o Check your equipment is working properly by listening for a known working transmitter o Check your receiver has the correct settings o Try listening from a higher elevation Even a rock or tree stump will help Once a signal is heard you will need to find the direction of the strongest signal There are three main techniques for finding a peak signal 1 Swing the antenna slowly around for a full 360 degrees Decide the general direction of the strongest signal peak signal and swing back and forth narrowing the arc each time until
15. ar e Brachial vein e Metatarsal a Heart rate Monitoring e Eggs e Adults and nestlings of large birds e Nestlings of small birds a Audio Recording and Playback a Radio tracking a Adverse Event Reporting Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 2 of 39 a Any research to be undertaken in the field may require a permit from Department for Environment Water and Natural resources DEWNR http www environment sa gov au licences and permits Animals in captivity permits a Collection and live transport holding of noxious species declared pests will require a specific permit from The Department of Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia PIRSA While your research may not involve animals as defined by the Australian Code and therefore not require an application for the use of animals it is necessary to provide details of organisms you propose to use to the AWC so as to register their use and identify potential situations where an application will still be required For example marine or terrestrial invertebrate collecting which includes the by catch of non target animal species will require an application must be submitted to the AWC General e Wash hands with disinfectant upon arrival at facility and before leaving e Refer to supporting Standard Operating Procedures and Safe Work Procedures e No Eating or drinking in areas housing animals
16. atteries headphones adequate space on hard drive SD card CF card before going into the field Check and test all playback gear iPod speakers Fox pro Scorpion playback system before going into the field Birds Audio Recording Make sure sound recording equipment is on and working and select an appropriate sample rate and bit depth e g 24 bit 48kHz wav files Turn on the audio recorder and check the recording levels on the recorder using the level meters to obtain recordings at 3 to 6dB if possible otherwise the S N ratio will be too low Note the location time day weather bird ID etc on the recorder In the Field Point the microphone in the direction of the focal bird Approach the bird quietly and keep far enough from the bird so not to disturb it Back off when their behaviour changes Note the bird ID on the recording when the focal bird vocalises e g that s male 1 Regularly check the recording levels on the recorder using the level meters to obtain recordings at 3 to 6dB if possible Stop recording if o Sufficient number of vocalisations have been recorded o Focal bird is not vocalising o Focal bird s behaviour changes o Poor weather conditions windy raining etc At the Nest Put the audio recorder in or next to the nest e g under the nest with the microphone facing the nest Make sure the audio equipment does not block the entrance to the nest Cover the recorder with vegetation
17. be appears to aid in keeping the bird calmer and less able to detect moment of capture and thus less likely to fly about cage increasing capture time and stress levels a lf animals are to be handled for moving try to encourage them to move themselves into a transport container or alternatively use a net that will fit their size For birds in particular use a soft bird net to catch then and ask for help from the animal house staff to reduce catching stress on the animal If practicable training to feed in transport container or suitable container in which to trap birds and allow easier capture for transfer to transport cages a Ensure potential escape points such as doors and windows are firmly closed prior to handling a After catching small birds to safely hold then firmly place palm over upper back of the body and fingers over the head and use the thumb and index finger to restrain side to side head movement Take care not to apply pressure to the chest and abdomen as this will restrict their breathing Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 9 of 39 Bird Handling cont Note head restraint to prevent biting gentle torso restraint so chest and keel are not compressed Fig from Everybird Macwhirter P 1994 Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 10 of 39 Bandin
18. bility and size The left sided jugular is not suitable due to its relatively small size e Smaller amounts e g for DNA analysis can be collected by puncturing the brachial or median metatarsal vein and collecting blood directly into a microcapillary tube e Feathers should not be plucked to locate the vein as this may tear the skin dampening the feathers with alcohol solution is sufficient to expose the skin e Great care must be taken to avoid haematoma and bleeding in very small birds as the loss of a couple of extra drops of blood can represent a significant proportion of the circulating blood volume and hence prove fatal e Haemostatic agents to control excessive bleeding must be readily available e Disinfectant hand soap e 25 27 gauge needles for brachial and metatarsal sampling and 29 30 gauge needles for jugular sampling 0 5 1ml syringes or insulin syringes Calico bird bags Alcohol swabs Cotton wool FTA paper and or eppendorf tubes Heparinised capillary tubes Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 24 of 39 From the Jugular e Prepare a 29 30 gauge needle and 1mm diameter heparinised capillary tube so they are accessible with one hand e Prepare FTA paper or eppendorf tube e Prepare a piece of cotton wool e Remove the cap of the needle and place both cap and needle on a sterile surface e Bend needle to a 45 angle with the bevel facin
19. budgies finches Unfamiliar birds should not be transported in the same carrier box e Birds should be transported in small bird carrier boxes which are available from the animal house You may provide your own transport cages but they must be approved by Animal House manager prior to use They must be comparable to the standard Animal House Transport carriers regarding minimum size and design eg Ventilation panels solid walls and lid or a cover to protect from weather draughts and a secure door e Vehicle requirements The objective is to maintain the area in which the birds are being transported at an ambient temperature of between 20 C and 30 C Where temperatures are expected to exceed this range the vehicle must be capable of effectively heating and cooling this area to maintain the temperature within this range Care must also be taken to arrange cages to provide ventilation for all birds while in the vehicle e Examples of suitable small bird transport boxes must include perch and locking pin for door Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 6 of 39 Birds Transport cont Admission into the Flinders University School of Biology Animal Care Unit a Where birds are transported to Flinders University School of Biology Animal Care Unit they must be placed into prepared cages in a temperature controlled room quarantine room and provided with fo
20. ces StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 25 of 39 From the Brachial Vein e Prepare a 25 27 gauge needle and 1mm diameter heparinised capillary tube so they are accessible with one hand Remove the cap of the needle and place both cap and needle on a sterile surface e Prepare FTA paper or eppendorf tube e Prepare a piece of cotton wool Hold the bird with wing extended see image below e To reduce the risk of haematoma formation ensure that the bird is carefully restrained so it cannot struggle causing the vein to tear Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 26 of 39 From the Brachial Vein cont e Use cotton wool and alcohol to swab feathers away from the brachial vein to make it clearly visible e Use thumb to compress vein proximally to make it distend e A 25 27G needle will be used to puncture the vein and collect blood using a heparinised microcapillary tube e The brachial is too small in small passerines to do more than prick the vein with a needle and draw blood from the skin surface This is often all that is needed to get a drop of blood onto FTA paper for DNA analysis Store the blood e g FTA card or eppendorf tube see above Do not recap the needle place the needle directly in a sharps container e Allow blood to clot by applying gentle pressure with cotton wool to s
21. ciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 11 of 39 o Ensure there is no gap around the ring and that the ends meet neatly to reduce the risk of injury to the leg e Plastic colour rings are fitted with a tool like a shoehorn a spoon see image below e Place one colour ring above the metal ring on the left leg o Place the plastic ring on the spoon in such a way that it opens and that the opening aligns with the hollow part of the spoon see image below o Place the spoon with the open plastic ring around the tarsus of the bird o Gently slide the plastic onto the leg Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 12 of 39 Banding cont e Check if the band is closed e Place two plastic colour rings on the right leg of the bird as described above Example YXYY Band L Alu X R R left down right up right down Colour Code Yellow Yellow Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 13 of 39 Mist netting General e In your Animal Ethics application you must stipulate the size of the nets to be used your target species and expected numbers of both target and non target species that you anticipate catching e You must detail how you will observe the nets and maximum time birds will be in nets before retrieval
22. d quails and flippers for little penguins will also be held by the piece of cloth which will prevent the birds from moving to much once in the testing box e For small passerine species place the bird in a small calico bag e Place the bird in the testing box disconnect the cables from the recorder pass it though the appropriate hole at the back of the box and reconnect the microphone to the recorder e Close the lid and start recording heart rate e When finished open the box and remove the bird from box for small passerine species remove the bird from the calico bag e Gently remove the cloth around the body e Release the bird into its original nest burrow or territory Monitoring Heart Rate in Nestlings small birds e Wash hands before and after handling birds e Record check the nest ID and location via GPS and using the appropriate data sheet e Prepare the heat pack by flexing disc to activate heat instantly see photo of heat pack above Place the heat pack on the ground in a shady area under the artificial nest see photo below of artificial nest below We will use a plastic container 10 15cm in diameter as the base for the artificial nest e Nest should have a round bottom and nesting material e g cotton balls wheat bags to support the nestling e A lid that has an archway cut out of the front but is solid roofed is essential to protect the nestling and simulate the conditions of the natural nest The nest
23. g General e Wash hands with disinfectant before and after handling birds e Refer to Standard Operating procedure for Animal Handling and Safe work procedure for administering medication animal handling e Researchers are provided with a banding kit containing Bird bags Metal rings Plastic colour rings Field logbook Ringpliers Balances and scales to measure weight Stopped rulers for measuring wing and tail length Calipers for measuring bill and tarsus length 0000000 0 e After removing the bird from the bird bag safely hold then firmly placing the palm over upper back of the body and fingers over the head Use the thumb and index finger to restrain side to side head movement this is known as the banders grip e Take care not to apply pressure to the chest and abdomen as this will restrict their breathing e Move the legs of the bird to one side so you can gently hold each individual leg to place the metal band see images below e Leg rings metal ring amp plastic colour rings are fitted to the tarsometatarsus below tarsus joint not tibiotarsus above point e Metal rings are fitted with special designed pliers e Place one metal ring on the left leg of a bird o Hold the left leg of the bird and place the open metal ring around the tarsus o Hold the open metal ring in place with your thumb and index finger o Place the ringplier around the open metal ring and gently close the metal ring Biological S
24. g up for easier access to the vein e Ensure there is no air in syringe e Hold the bird s head between index and middle finger and use the thumb to control the body and wing e To reduce the risk of haematoma formation ensure that the bird is carefully restrained so it cannot struggle causing the vein to tear e Use cotton wool amp alcohol to swab feathers away from the jugular to make it clearly visible e Use thumb to compress vein proximally and cause it to distend e Use 29 30 gauge needles on 1ml or 0 5ml insulin syringe Heparinised see image below e Insert needle with the bevel facing up in an upward direction at an angle of 45 to the skin and gently draw back with the thumb on the syringe to collect blood e Take no more than 1 of the birds body weight by volume within a 24 hr period preferably less frequently o The logic being that a bird is about 10 blood and you don t want to take more than 10 of that blood volume 0 10 0 10 0 01 o So for a 5g zebra finch you would take no more than 0 01 5g 0 05ml of blood e Store the blood e g FTA card or eppendorf tube e Do not recap needle place the needle directly into a sharps container e Compress vein with thumb as the needle is drawn out and hold thumb in position for at least 30 seconds e Allow blood to clot by applying gentle pressure with cotton wool to stop bleeding effectively e Monitor the bird for subsequent bleeding Biological Scien
25. hen attaching and detaching the antenna from the receiver as they are easily damaged e Take care to not bend or stress the arms of the antenna The arms of the antenna must remain straight and parallel to one another to ensure maximum receiving efficiency Resources Inventory Committee 1998 e Do not twist or kink leads This includes tightly wrapping them around the antenna The lead can be loosely wrapped around the antenna for storage or transport It is important to ensure that the lead is not slammed in the vehicle door during storage or transport e Remove batteries from the receiver when storing for an extended period of time e Take note of care instructions for transmitters from manufacturers Battery life of some stored transmitters can be prolonged by periodically switching on the transmitters and or storing the transmitters in a fridge Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 35 of 39 Birds Radio Tracking cont Attachment of transmitter e Apply the radio transmitter at the time of mist netting e Cut the feathers in the immediate attachment area to 1mm long with round nosed scissors e Glue radio transmitters to the feathers of the bird in the inter scapular region see image below using a non irritant adhesive eyelash glue ie Manicare Goth amp Johns 2001 e Hold the bird in the holding bag that was used at the time of capture f
26. ironment sa gov au licences and permits Animals in captivity permits Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 38 of 39 e http www flinders edu au research researcher support ebi animal ethics animal ethics home cfm e http www birds cornell edu e McGregor PK 2000 Playback experiments design and analysis Acta Ethologica 3 1 3 8 e Kroodsma DE 1986 Design of song playback experiments Auk 103 640 642 e Kroodsma DE 2005 The singing life of birds the art and science of listening to birdsong Houghton Mifflin Company USA Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 39 of 39
27. irst egg Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 29 of 39 Monitoring Heart Rate in Adults and Nestlings of larger birds e Prepare the heat pack by flexing disc to activate heat instantly see photo of heat pack below e Prepare the microphone cloth calico bag and testing box e Use a clean cardboard box the size of a shoes box 30x15cm for the small adult passerine birds and quails and a larger cardboard box 50x50cm for the little penguins both adults and nestlings e The bottom of the box will be covered with newspapers to protect the bottom of the box All boxes will have a lid to prevent the birds from escaping Some small holes 1 2mm will be made on all sides of the box to allow air to pass through A larger hole will be made at the back to allow passage for a cable to connect the microphone to the recorder e Place the testing box on the ground in a shady area e Catch the bird e Place the microphone on the chest area of the birds connected to the recorder and listen through the recorder to detect heart rate Always use a microphone that has a wind protective cover so it has a soft surface e Once the heart rate is detected hold the microphone and secure it with a piece of cloth surrounding the bird body around the chest area and held in place witha strap of Velcro that is not too tight to allow breathing e Wings for small passerines an
28. l bird assessment checklist Birds must be quarantined individually or in pre established pairs social groups eg they were housed together at the facility they have come from or were observed to be part of a pair social group in the wild Cages to be used during quarantine period must be approved by Animal House Management before birds are transported to the facility Room 019a in the Animal House is the designated quarantine room for birds large colonies birds may be quarantined in the larger outdoor cages behind the animal house if space is available Only birds from the same location capture group can be quarantined outside at any one time to avoid cross contamination with other bird colonies During the Quarantine period all birds will be wormed and treated for external parasites with medication such as Moxidectin 5ml L drinking water mixed daily and given for 3 days Birds will also be banded and a blood sample taken for identification and sex determination Records will be created for individual birds to maintain this information and ongoing health monitoring Birds should be visually assessed daily for a two week quarantine period as per the small bird assessment checklist Check food and water daily and replace as required Outdoor water containers should be cleaned out once per week and more often in warmer months if there is any sign of algal growth Indoor water and feed bowls are rinsed refilled replaced daily Whi
29. le under experimental conditions investigators are responsible for keeping their animal s enclosures clean and maintaining food and water supply Paper substrate is generally changed daily but this frequency may be affected by number of birds in cage and whether they are laying eggs Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 4 of 39 Quarantine Housing and Monitoring cont Birds are monitored daily as follows a Clean and ample water supply Appropriate temperature and air circulation Any signs of discharge from eyes or beak Any signs of abnormal body shape swelling fight injuries abnormal movement balance significant change in appetite abnormal level of activity socialising Abnormal respiration Oooooooo All enclosures should be labelled with the following Project approval number Species and numbers medications recent health history and Name and contact details of person responsible At the end of the quarantine period animals must be confirmed to be in good health by experienced staff before they are allocated to a project At the end of the Quarantine period all tanks benches must be cleaned with either 70 or 99 ethanol F10 or bleach sodium hypochlorite Floors can be cleaned with bleach F10 or hospital grade disinfectant Cleaning equipment must not be shared between quarantine and conventional rooms Each room has F10
30. lfare Committee website listed below It is your responsibility to regularly check this site for updates to guidelines forms etc http www flinders edu au research researcher support ebi animal ethics animal ethics home cfm Q All staff and students involved in animal research must also attend the Animal Welfare Information Day sessions run in approximately February and August each year Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 1 of 39 Standard Operating Procedures Refer to Risk assessments Standard Operating Procedures and Safe Operating Procedures for chemicals processes and plant equipment where appropriate All projects must have an accompanying Risk Assessment signed by the Chief Investigator The following are a list of the main SOP s governing working with animals in Biological Sciences See the AWC webpage for all current versions of SOP s e Standard Operating Procedures and Safe Work Procedures for the Use of the Animal House Marine and Aquaculture Facilities e Standard Operating Procedure for Working With Birds SOP Index The SOP Working with Small Birds contains the following sections a Permits a General Information a Quarantine Housing and Monitoring a Transport a Egg Handling a Bird Handling a Banding a Mist netting a Administering medication e Analgesia e Anaesthesia a Euthanasia a Blood sampling e Jugul
31. od and water Release a Birds may only be released as per conditions of DEWNR permit and transport to the release location must adhere to this Standard Operating Procedure Egg handling e Wash hands with disinfectant before and after handling eggs and birds e Safe work procedure for administering medication animal handling e Record check the nest ID and location via GPS and using the appropriate data sheet e Check for presence of eggs by inserting one finger inside the nest and gently touching the bottom of the nest count the number of eggs by touch e To remove eggs close hand gently around the egg and position the egg so it is sitting in the palm of the hand with the fingers slightly closed on top to protect the egg e Remove one egg at a time e Take extreme precaution not to apply to much pressure on the shell of the egg e To estimate the age of an egg place the egg on the black soft seat of the egg candler see photo and turn the light on Alternatively place the egg in the palm of hand with the hand as flat as possible and at eyes level Direct a bright torch toward the inside of the eggs from the side Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 7 of 39 Egg handling o Four six days old eggs should note a centrally located embryo and developing blood vessels see photos below o When the egg are close to hatching should n
32. or a period up to 5 10 mins to allow the bird to become accustomed to the transmitter e Release the bird at the site of capture e Follow the birds for a period of 60 minutes to check that they are accustomed to the transmitter e If there is any sign that the transmitter is causing adverse effects such as reduced mobility apathy or incapability of flight recapture the bird immediately and remove the transmitter e After the transmitter has been accepted follow the bird every 30 minutes over a 12 hour period to sample detailed patterns of habitat use e For the next 14 days sample birds twice per day for 30 minutes morning amp afternoon to sample detailed patterns of habitat use e lf any sign that the transmitter is causing adverse effects during this sampling period recapture bird immediately and remove the transmitter e Record the time and location of the bird two or three times a day for up to two weeks e The transmitter will fall off and can be recovered by the researcher after two weeks as the eye lash glue will loose its hold e When necessary to replace transmitter batteries and remove transmitters recapture birds using mist nets e Remove all transmitters and attachments from birds at the completion of tracking Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 36 of 39 Birds Radio Tracking cont Finding a radio tagged individual e Keep
33. ote a light upper part enlarged air cell which is important for proper hatching The dark lower part contains the embryo see photo below e Do not remove eggs that are 1 2 days prior hatching time as this can disturb hatching Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 3 1 June 2015 Animal House Manager Page 8 of 39 Bird Handling a Wash hands and arms thoroughly before and after handling any animals to reduce risk of infection to animals or transfer of zoonoses to users Refer to the Animal House Rooms Safe Operating Procedures and Risk Assessment for any hazards or risks associated with animal handling a Hands must also be washed between handling unfamiliar animals animals not housed in the same enclosure or from the same field site Gloves and protective clothing should be worn where practical a The species being handled must be investigated by the researcher and any additional risks like stings bites and potential zoonoses not covered by the Animal House Risk Assessment must be risk assessed in the project risk assessment prior to working with the particular species a Birds are often calmer when a small cloth towel can be draped over the head to reduce visibility prior to and or during handling For larger animals a calico bag can be used to cover the animals head a For birds held indoors switching off room lighting and having the background illumination of a nightlamp or red light glo
34. rmed in a quiet area away from other animals The following photos illustrate the steps in sedation and euthanasia but can also be referred to for general handling blood sampling administering medication and sedation Intramuscular injection of alfaxan for sedation Note bird is held securely without compressing chest area The muscular breast area is the injection site note the shallow angle Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 19 of 39 Post injection of the sedative Alfaxan Bird is observed until it can no longer perch and sits quietly on the bottom of the cage Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 20 of 39 Euthanasiacont The sedated bird can then be held between two fingers around the base of the skull to gently extend the neck area and make the jugular vein observable Note you may need to pluck some feathers and or swab with an isopropyl swab for a clear view As the bird is heavily sedated this will not cause discomfort Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 21 of 39 Euthanasia cont aa SH A Removing some feathers has now clearly exposed the right hand side jugular vein Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 20
35. s set at the appropriate volume before going into the field In the Territor In the field locate the focal bird s in the territory Observe the behaviour of the birds for approximately 3 minutes before placing the speaker down in the territory Place the speaker on the ground at an appropriate distance from the focal bird s 10 20 metres Observer s remain at least 10 20 metres from the speaker hidden in vegetation Start the playback stimulus using a remote control e g Fox pro Scorpion remote iPod with bluetooth speaker Observe and record the behaviour of the focal bird s Playback stimuli are usually 3 6 minutes long Remove speaker from territory once playback trial is over Models or mounts of birds may also be used in playback trials If so the bird model will placed on top of or next to the speaker before the playback stimulus starts and removed along with the speaker once the playback trial is over Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 33 of 39 At the Nest e Inthe field locate the nest e Place the playback gear e g iPod cable and speaker under the nest e Monitor the nest after setting up the playback gear until the parent birds return to ensure the nest is not disturbed e lf the playback gear is not accepted after 20 minutes parent birds have not returned to the nest remove the playback gear and do not try
36. t frequency usually within the range of 150MHz to 152MHz 2 Receiver This device is tuned to the frequency of the transmitter and the strength of the signal will indicate the proximity to the animal If an appropriate antenna is attached the direction of the signal can be determined 3 Antenna This receives the signal from the transmitter The antenna needs to be matched to the frequency range i e 150MHz to 152MHz of the transmitters being used A lead is usually permanently attached to the antenna that is used to connect it to the receiver Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 34 of 39 Birds Radio Tracking cont e You will need to be familiar with how to tune your receiver to the frequency of the transmitters and make adjustments Consult the user manual e tis a good idea to carry back up equipment antenna lead and receiver and spare batteries e You will also require datasheets to record your observations e A GPS is often carried to take a reading of the exact location of listening points or of the located transmitter If using a GPS you should familiarise yourself with the functions required by consulting the user manual prior to venturing into the field Equipment care and maintenance Radio tracking equipment is subject to failure Actions to prevent problems include e Protect equipment from rain e Take care with connectors w
37. top bleeding effectively e Put pressure on the vein for at least 30 secs once enough blood has been obtained to prevent superfluous bleeding e Monitor the bird for subsequent bleeding From the Metatarsal Vein e Prepare a 25 27 gauge needle and 1mm diameter heparinised capillary tube so they are accessible with one hand Remove the cap of the needle and place both cap and needle on a sterile surface e Prepare FTA paper or eppendorf tube e Prepare a piece of cotton wool e Hold the leg of the chick between your thumb and index finger see image below e Use cotton wool and alcohol to swab sterilize the area e Use thumb to gently compress the vein to make it distend e A 25 27G needle will be used to puncture the metatarsal vein and collect blood using a heparinised microcapillary tube Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 27 of 39 From the Metatarsal Vein cont e The metatarsal vein is too small in small passerines to do more than prick the vein with a needle and draw blood from the skin surface This is often all that is needed to get a drop of blood onto FTA paper for DNA analysis Store the blood e g FTA card or eppendorf tube see above Do not recap the needle place the needle directly in a sharps container Allow blood to clot by applying gentle pressure with cotton wool to stop bleeding effectively e Put pressure on the
38. vein for at least 30 secs once enough blood has been obtained to prevent superfluous bleeding e Monitor the bird for subsequent bleeding General e Wash hands before and after handling birds e Refer to Safe Work Procedure for handling animals administering medication Monitoring Heart Rate in Eggs e Record check the nest ID and location via GPS and using the appropriate data sheet e Prepare the heat pack by flexing disc to activate heat instantly see photo of heat pack below a e 2a K athmandu em non aD Kathmandu e Prepare the heat pack by flexing disc to activate heat instantly see photo of heat pack below Place the heat pack on the ground in a shady area under the buddy monitor Open the buddy monitor Collect one egg from the nest Place the egg in soft seat in the buddy monitor see photo below using the thumb and the grooming fingers careful not to apply to much pressure on shell The egg should not be moved up and down too much Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 28 of 39 Monitoring Heart Rate in eggs cont e Close the buddy monitor and record heart rate on data sheet e Wash hands before and after handling birds e When finished open buddy monitor collect the egg and return it to its original nest e f collecting data from more than one egg per nest remove second egg before returning the f
39. working with for current recommendations Veterinary recommendations listed below Drug Dose and route Comments Butorphanol 0 5 4 0 mg kg IM q2 4h Little is known regarding dosing frequency Buprenorphine 0 01 0 05 mg kg IM q8 12h Carprofen 1 4 mg kg SC PO q12h Has been associated with haemorrhage Flunixin meglumine 0 5 1 mg kg IM q24h Nephrotoxic Need good hydration Ibuprofen 5 10 mg kg PO q8 12h Use paediatric suspension Meloxicam 0 1 0 5 mg kg SC PO q24h Unknown efficacy Longer half life in chickens and pigeons Phenylbutazone 3 5 7 0 mg kg PO q8 12h Psittacines Euthanasia must only be undertaken by trained personnel and should be in consultation with the Animal Welfare Officer if being undertaken outside of approved application eg emergency situations NH amp MRC and veterinary recommended methods are a Carbon dioxide inhalation for chicks a IP injection of sodium pentobarbitone at a rate of 60mg ml for all birds Current vet recommendation is to first sedate with intramuscular injection of alfaxalone first Pentobarbitone can then be given IP or IV a Inhalants e Isofluorane in O e CO a Cervical dislocation Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 18 of 39 Euthanasia cont aK Physical methods of euthanasia should only be performed by an appropriately trained operator Euthanasia must be perfo
40. you have settled on a direction 2 Swing the antenna around to determine roughly the direction of the strongest signal then point the antenna in particular directions and compare the signal strength Each time you point and decide which direction is stronger you can home into the strongest signal to narrower and narrower slices of the circle Using this technique means that each time you attempt to narrow down the signal direction you are comparing two signal strengths and deciding if one is stronger than the other rather than listening to a gradient which can be difficult to distinguish where the signal is strongest If fitted it is possible to use the signal strength meter on the receiver to determine the direction of the transmitter but it is recommended that this is only used in conjunction with listening for the strongest signal Biological Sciences StandardOperatingProcedure Working With Birds Version 4 0 August 2015 Animal House Manager Page 37 of 39 Adverse Event Reporting e An Animal Incident is anything that happens to the animal and or its environment not detailed and approved in the ethics application e You must advise the Animal House manager and the AWO as soon as possible when such an even occurs and no more than 24 hours after the event e You must submit a report to the Animal Welfare Committee within 3 working days e The reporting form can be found here http www flinders edu au research researcher support ebi anim
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