More Sick Birds Being Transported From Laguna Niguel

Orange County officials continue to their efforts to try and save more than a dozen ducks and determine the source of their illness, which they suspect may be avian botulism at .

The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach started from the park at 28241 La Paz Road, said Debbie McGuire, the center's director.

"Today we got another six,'' she said on Tuesday. "At least 60 ducks have died, likely from avian botulism, which is frequently deadly." 

McGuire said she plans to send some of the dead ducks to a lab for further analysis to determine if avian botulism is killing them on Tuesday. The test results should be back in about a week, she added.

In the meantime, the surviving ducks are being treated with fluids to wash the poison out of their system, McGuire said.

Local resident and volunteer Kristi Jolliffe said she was at the lake on Monday again, rescuing and recovering more birds.

"I picked up an egret that was sick," she said. "I was flushing it with fluids. I've added four more to the dead count."

Avian botulism usually infects birds when there is low oxygen in the water and hot temperatures, McGuire said.

It is possible that well-meaning duck lovers feeding the birds could be contributing to the disease, she added.

"Throwing bread into the water could be a nutrient base,'' for the potentially deadly bacteria, McGuire said.

Bird lovers could better help their feathered friends by making a donation to the wildlife center, which is struggling as it also copes with an influx of starving pelicans, McGuire said.

"We're pretty much at maximum capacity,'' McGuire said. "We've had to put up emergency caging.''

The lack of fish have starved the gulls, McGuire said.

"We had 65 in on Friday before releasing 19, and we released another five today,'' McGuire said, adding the center has also treated 250 seagulls since July 1.

City News Service contributed to this report