Avian Necropsy Report

Name of Prosector
Nicole Neumann, Dustyn LaForge,
Randi Lynn

e-mail address:
nicoleneumann@flemingcollege.ca dustynd.laforge@flemingcollege

Date of investigation:
March 15th 2016

Date of reported kill:

Unknown

Scene Information
Environmental conditions/notes
Notes: Unknown

Species involved:

Wood Duck

Estimated numbers:

Unknown

General Appearance of living birds:

Notes: The bird was only seen dead.

Avian Necropsy Findings:

Bird Weight grams:

545g

Cloacal Sex:

Male

Age Category (Adult, YOY)

Adult

Stage of molt:

Complete

External parasites:

None

Measurements:

Tol. L. (mm): 442

L.B.F.N. (mm): 24.4

L.C.W. (mm): 223

Ht. BAN (mm): 9.8

Wg. Sp. (mm): 66.6

T.L. (mm): 96
Bursa (mm): N/A (Adult)

Carcass condition:
Fresh
Autolyzed Degree (1, 2, 3):

Body condition:
emaciated
thin
good
Furcula Fat Score:

Previously Frozen:
Yes
No

Subcutaneous Fat stores:

poor
adequate
abundant

Skin & Feathers

Notes: The wing and face feather appeared normal. The colouring of the feathers were representative of a typi
duck. All characteristic colours were present and vibrant. No feathers on the face, head, or body were damage
to the dissection when some feathers fell out. The bird had been previously shot by a hunter and had the breas
There was blood present on the white feather close to the bullet wound.

Body Openings including eyes:

Notes: The duck had a white eye ring which is a characteristic present in wood ducks. The eyes were intact wit
trauma, lesions, or hemorrhaging although the eyes were slightly sunken in. The anus was normal with no trau
or swelling. The mouth was hemorrhaged and filled with blood covering the interior of the mount and tongue.

Notes: The duck had a white eye ring which is a characteristic present in wood ducks. The eyes were intact wit
trauma, lesions, or hemorrhaging although the eyes were slightly sunken in. The anus was normal with no trau
or swelling. The mouth was hemorrhaged and filled with blood covering the interior of the mount and tongue.

Gastrointestinal System:

beak and oral cavity

Notes: The beak is black like you would find on a healthy wood duck, but as you move towards the face of the
to change to being more red in colour. This is due to the large amount of hemorrhaging present inside the mou
were pale in colour and upon inspection of the tongue, it was found to be highly saturated in blood. The roof of
been stained due to the clotting and hemorrhaging present.

crop contents
Weight of contents:
Notes: Our study species was a wood duck, because a wood duck is a waterfowl there is no crop present.

crop structure
Notes: Not present in our study species.

proventriculus contents

Notes: There were no contents present within the proventriculus.

proventriculus structure
Notes: The proventriculus was severely hemorrhaged when removed from the body cavity. There was clotting p
the organ, and the proventriculus was dark red with purple present throughout. The organ is a lot darker than in
duck, where it would be a a light shade of purple.

gizzard structure
Notes: The gizzard was large and was in a healthy condition before cut open for examination. The outside of th
smooth and no lesions or parasites were present. The gizzard had normal fatty colouring and was slightly stain
making the gizzard a shade of pink.

gizzard contents
Weight of contents:
Notes: The gizzard was cut open length wise to reveal the contents on the inside. There were no large stones
gizzard of this wood duck, however there was a sandy-like material that was mostly made up of vegetation. Th
material was partially stained red due to the amount of hemorrhaging present in this specimen. No parasites w
inside of the gizzard as well.

pancreas
Notes: Upon examination of the pancreas it was noted that a large amount of clotting was present around the p
as having a lot of hemorrhaging around the pancreas. The colour of the pancreas had changed from a light pin
red which almost makes it indistinguishable from the other organs. No parasites were detected in or on the pan

intestinal contents
Notes: Once the intestines were removed from the bird we were able to determine that chyme was present ins
intestine. The intestines were darker in colour but were normal in size. There was no bloating present. No lesio
the outside or on the inside of the intestines.

intestinal structure
Notes: The structure of the intestines was severely hemorrhaged and severely clotted. The intestines have bee
together and were flattened. Due to the hemorrhaging present, the intestines were stuck together and have ch
(became darker) to be almost unrecognizable. No parasites were present on the outside of the intestines.

intestinal parasites

Notes: No intestinal parasites were found.

Bursa of Fabricus
Notes: The individual was an adult duck, thus there was no bursa of fabrics present.

Circulalatory System:
heart

Heart Weight:

Notes: The heart was in good shape because the colour was a dark red as we would expect to see in a healthy
no lesions present in the heart either. The size and shape of the heart were normal for an adult wood duck (like
space when you put your thumb and index finger together in a circle).
pericardium
Notes: The pericardium was normal for an adult wood duck because no lesions or parasites were present.
arterial structure
Notes: The arterial structure of our wood duck was normal in size, shape, and colour for that of an adult wood

venous structure
Notes: The venous structure of our wood duck was normal with respect to the size, shape and colour to that of
ducks.
blood
Notes: The blood in our study species was found to be clotting and was hemorrhaging throughout the body.

Respiratory System:
nostrils
Notes: The nostrils were normal with no lesions, abnormal discharge, and discolouration.

trachea
Notes: A small whole was found above the syrinx. (approximately 15-20mm above) The hole was about the siz
pin. Other than the hole, the trachea was normal. It was light pink in colour, tube-shaped (not deformed) and rib
were present near the base of the trachea as well as hemorrhaging present at the top of it, directly under the b

air sacs

Air sac swab taken:

Notes: The air sacs were stained blood red. They popped after the keel was removed and therefore no sample

parabronchi
Notes:There was severe hemorrhaged and thus blood red in colour. They were also very distorted.

Liver:

Notes: The liver was dark purple/red in colour, a little enlarged, and no lesions were found but the edges of the
darker. It was the most intact organ because of the impact the bullet had on the other organs.

Spleen:

Notes: The spleen had no signs of lesions, parasites, or abnormalities. It was the typical blood red colour. The
into two sections, probably because of the impact from the bullet therefore the spleen was not measured becau
piece was not found.

Urinary System:

kidneys
Urate crystals:
Notes: The kidneys were the normal dark blood red colour with no lesions or abnormalities.

ureters

Notes: The ureters were not examined because the bullet had damaged most of the organs which made them
unrecognizable.
Reproductive System:
Sex
Male

Lt. Gon. (mm): Not measured

Rt. Gon. (mm): Not measured

ovary/testes
Notes: The testes were not found because they unrecognized due to the amount of hemorrhaging and damage
bullet.

oviduct/vas deferens
Notes: The vas deferens were not found because they were unrecognizable due to the amount of hemorrhagin
done by the bullet.

Brain
Notes: The brain was mostly gelatinous, intact, pink/red in colour, with no abnormalities.

Muscles

Notes: The body condition was good. No signs of starvation and muscles not having any lesions or abnormaliti

Skeleton/Skull
Notes: The skull was in good shape, intact, no bones were broken other than both legs.

Case Summary
The outside of the bird is in relatively good health. The fat stores on the body have been partially removed due
hunted. with the remaining fat present it was easy to determine that the furcula fat score was a 2. There was n
on the outside of the body however blood clotting hemorrhaging were present inside the mouth. Blood was also
trachea and continued down into the body cavity. Most of the internal organs were damaged by way of the bulle
more hemorrhaging inside the body cavity and has caused damage to many of the internal organs. A pellet wa
7 removed from the body. Upon examination of the proventriculu
inside of the chest cavity when the organs were
be severely hemorrhaged and darker in colour than in a normal bird. The gizzard of the wood duck was in relat
with only a slight discolouration to the outside. The pancreas was found to be severely hemorrhaged and almo

The outside of the bird is in relatively good health. The fat stores on the body have been partially removed due
hunted. with the remaining fat present it was easy to determine that the furcula fat score was a 2. There was n
on the outside of the body however blood clotting hemorrhaging were present inside the mouth. Blood was also
trachea and continued down into the body cavity. Most of the internal organs were damaged by way of the bulle
more hemorrhaging inside the body cavity and has caused damage to many of the internal organs. A pellet wa
inside of the chest cavity when the organs were removed from the body. Upon examination of the proventriculu
be severely hemorrhaged and darker in colour than in a normal bird. The gizzard of the wood duck was in relat
with only a slight discolouration to the outside. The pancreas was found to be severely hemorrhaged and almo
from the small intestine. No parasites were found on the pancreas. When the intestines were examined it show
in relatively poor health, showing signs of severe hemorrhaging and clotting. The intestines were flattened and
mess. No parasites were present in or on the small intestines. The trachea had a small hole about the size of t
>1 mm in diameter. This hole is located directly above the syrinx. The presence of the bullet leads to the conclu
cause of death was from a gunshot, and because portions of the breasts were missing the reasoning for the ki

Fleming Bird I.D. #

WF85

UTM Location of kill:

Kawartha Lakes - UTM: 17T Easting:
670962.01; Northing: 4938102.44

545g

Ex. Cul (mm): 34.8

Tars. L. (mm): 38.9
Col. Eye Tan/yellow
Eye Ring White

10

Feather condition
poor:
good

General muscle condition:

poor
adequate
good

thers were representative of a typical healthy wood

face, head, or body were damaged or absent prior
shot by a hunter and had the breasts removed.

od ducks. The eyes were intact with no signs of

The anus was normal with no trauma, hemorrhaging
nterior of the mount and tongue.

11

you move towards the face of the bird the bill starts
morrhaging present inside the mouth. The nostrils
hly saturated in blood. The roof of the mouth has

Not Applicable
fowl there is no crop present.

12

e body cavity. There was clotting present around

ut. The organ is a lot darker than in a healthy wood

for examination. The outside of the gizzard was

tty colouring and was slightly stained with blood,

3.2g
side. There were no large stones present inside the
mostly made up of vegetation. This sandy like
t in this specimen. No parasites were present on the

f clotting was present around the pancreas as well

creas had changed from a light pink colour to a deep
tes were detected in or on the pancreas.

rmine that chyme was present inside the small

was no bloating present. No lesions were found on

ly clotted. The intestines have been squished

were stuck together and have changed colour
the outside of the intestines.

13

present.

7.9g

we would expect to see in a healthy bird. There were

normal for an adult wood duck (like the size of the

ns or parasites were present.

d colour for that of an adult wood duck.

e size, shape and colour to that of other wood

orrhaging throughout the body.

scolouration.

above) The hole was about the size of the tip of a

ube-shaped (not deformed) and ribbed. Fat stores
at the top of it, directly under the beak.

14

None taken

removed and therefore no sample was swabbed.

ere also very distorted.

s were found but the edges of the liver were slightly

he other organs.

s the typical blood red colour. The spleen was split

e spleen was not measured because the second

None
abnormalities.

15

st of the organs which made them be

Lt. Gon. (g):

Rt. Gon. (g):

Not measured
Not measured

ount of hemorrhaging and damage done by the

due to the amount of hemorrhaging and damage

normalities.

having any lesions or abnormalities.

n both legs.

y have been partially removed due to the bird being

la fat score was a 2. There was no hemorrhaging
t inside the mouth. Blood was also present in the
were damaged by way of the bullet. This led to
of the internal organs. A pellet was found on the
n examination of the proventriculus, it was found to
zard of the wood duck was in relatively good shape
e severely hemorrhaged and almost unrecognizable

16

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