Plasma chemistry and hematology reference values in wild nestlings of White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla): effects of age, sex and hatching date

Miguel Ferrer*, Rhian Evans, Joanna Hedley, Simon Hollamby, Anna Meredith, Virginia Morandini, Owen Selly, Claire Smith, D. Philip Whitfield

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Studies on normal concentration of blood constituents of free-living birds are not very common. An adequate knowledge of blood chemistry is greatly recommended for those projects involving research and management of populations as far as they can be valuable for the assessment of the nutritional levels and health status of species. No previous published reports on these parameters from this species are available. The aim of this study was to obtain representative reference intervals for hematologic and biochemical values in free-living clinically healthy wild White-tailed Sea Eagle nestlings (Haliaetus albicilla). In addition, we investigated potential relationships between blood parameters, sex, age and hatching dates. Blood samples were obtained as part of routine monitoring and management when wild chicks were removed from their nest as part of a reintroduction program prerelease health check. A total of 83 nestlings, 43 males and 40 females, between 41-66 days of age (mean=54.22, SD=5.7), were sampled. Significant differences between sexes were found. Among hematological parameters, MCH, lymphocytes P and thrombocytes showed significant differences between males and females. In biochemical parameters, significant differences were found only in calcium, CK and LDH. No effect of the age in days of the nestling when the sample was taken in any of the analyzed hematological parameters was found. Any significant effect on biochemical parameters were found neither. Hatching date showed no relationship with blood parameters but urea. Urea was the only variable showing a strong relationship with hatching date, with those nestlings hatching later in the season showing higher urea concentration.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Ornithology
Early online date17 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 17 Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Blood parameters
  • hatching date
  • plasma chemistry
  • hematology
  • urea
  • cholesterol
  • free-living raptor

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Plasma chemistry and hematology reference values in wild nestlings of White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla): effects of age, sex and hatching date'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this