30 waterbirds found dead on Lake Havasu, Arizona had blunt trauma

An eared grebe (black-necked grebe)

    

Birds found dead on Lake Havasu in late-April showed signs of "severe blunt trauma" and have been sent to the National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin for further testing, Arizona Game and Fish wildlife biologist Carrington Knox said Tuesday.

A group of more than 30 dead eared grebes were spotted just south of Cattail Cove State Park on April 28 and reported to Game and Fish. Lake Havasu wildlife manager Suzanne Ehret retrieved sample specimens of the grebes and sent them to Game and Fish in Phoenix.

Knox said initial observations of the grebes showed "severe blunt trauma," but the cause of the trauma was unknown. She said grebes aren't "the best fliers" and have been known to fly into power lines or be struck by boats. The testing of the birds is ongoing.

"At this point we can't determine what the trauma was caused by," she said.

Knox said it was still unknown if environmental factors were a cause of the grebe deaths. The wildlife center, which is part of the US Geologic Survey, has more comprehensive testing capabilities than Game and Fish. Knox said it is common for the state to send specimens to be tested there and that it usually takes one or two months to receive results.

Deanna Simpson, who reported the grebes after coming across them while fishing with her husband, said they were surrounded by blue-green algae, which has become more prevalent on Lake Havasu in recent years.