Hypothermia during general anesthesia of avian species can be life threatening and can develop even when supplemental heat is provided. To compare the change in core body temperature in avian patients anesthetized with different anesthetic delivery systems, we monitored the core body temperature of 12 pigeons (Columba livia) during isoflurane anesthesia delivered by 3 commercially available anesthetic systems: a circle system attached to a mechanical ventilator producing heated air, a nonrebreathing circuit with a mechanical ventilator delivering nonheated air, and a Bain nonrebreathing circuit. Each pigeon was anesthetized with each of the 3 anesthetic delivery systems in a randomized complete crossover trial. Mean core body temperature decreased significantly with all anesthetic delivery systems, with no significant difference between the change in core body temperature at 45 and 90 minutes among the 3 systems. With all 3 systems, the core body temperature of all pigeons remained within the range of 36.2°C–42.0°C (97.2°F–107.6°F). Although the mean inspired gas temperature was significantly higher with the heated-air ventilator system than with the nonheated-air ventilator and Bain nonrebreathing circuit systems, this difference did not contribute to the maintenance of the core body temperature. No one system was superior in preventing hypothermia during isoflurane anesthesia of pigeons.

An established massage technique for semen collection in budgerigars, cockatiels, and monk parakeets was applied to 40 different birds of 26 different psittacine species in a period of 4 weeks. Semen collection was successful in 8 individual birds (Aratinga species, Tanygnathus species, Guarouba guarouba, and Pionus chalcopterus). Large parrot species (Ara ambigua, Cacatua leadbeateri, Amazona species, and Eclectus species) were difficult to handle and did not relax during the application of the massage technique. Semen was evaluated for volume, color, pH, spermatozoa concentration, total spermatozoa number, spermatozoa motility, and fraction of living spermatozoa. Additionally, spermatozoa were examined for pathomorphologic abnormalities.

A 12-year-old female cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) presented with a history of acute onset dyspnea. Clinical signs were not evident initially, and survey radiographs were unremarkable. Dyspnea returned 12 hours later and was accompanied by audible wheezing, suggesting tracheal obstruction. An air sac cannula was placed to allow adequate ventilation. Tracheoscopy with a 1.2-mm semirigid telescope revealed a seed foreign body in the trachea proximal to the syrinx. The semirigid telescope allowed visibility of the seed during removal with endoscope graspers. Initial attempts at removal failed, but removal was successful 36 hours later during a second attempt. The bird recovered uneventfully and remains clinically normal 1 year after removal of the obstruction.

A 23-year-old white cockatoo (Cacatua alba) was examined because of severe muscle wasting and acute onset of ataxia and right head tilt. Results of diagnostic tests were inconclusive, and the bird died despite supportive care and empirical treatment. Results of necropsy and histopathologic examination revealed cysts within skeletal and cardiac muscle, meronts (schizonts) within cerebellar tissue, and encephalitis caused by infection with Sarcocystis falcatula-like organisms.

A cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) was presented with generalized pruritis and feather loss around the head and patagial membranes of the wings. Treatment with antiparasitic and antibiotic agents did not result in clinical improvement. The lesions progressed to a generalized crusty dermatitis of the skin in the areas of feather loss. Results of skin biopsy revealed acute eosinophilic folliculitis and pyoderma containing budding yeasts. A yeast, Trichosporon asahii, was identified on fungal culture of a skin biopsy sample. Skin lesions and pruritis rapidly resolved with oral ketoconazole therapy.

Horner's syndrome was diagnosed in a 3-year-old female red-bellied parrot (Poicephalus rufiventris). The cause of Horner's syndrome in this bird was thought to be trauma to the base of the neck. Clinical signs included unilateral ptosis and changes in the position and behavior of feathers on the affected side of the head and neck. The ptosis was markedly ameliorated after the sympathomimetic agent phenylephrine was applied locally, confirming the diagnosis. Involvement of feather follicles in Horner's syndrome has not been reported previously but is consistent with the exclusively adrenergic innervation of smooth muscles controlling feather movement. This is the second report of Horner's syndrome in a bird and the first in a psittacine species. The paucity of cases in birds is surprising, as head and neck trauma are common. Horner's syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis for ptosis in an avian species.

The Macqueen's bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), previously known as the Houbara bustard, is an increasingly threatened species. A potentially significant cause of its decline is illegal trade. When illegal shipments of these birds are confiscated by authorities in the United Arab Emirates, they are placed with the National Avian Research Center's (NARC) Macqueen's bustard rehabilitation program. In this report, we describe the threats to the Macqueen's bustard in the wild and provide a detailed description of the quarantine program at NARC and of how this program is designed to minimize the effects of diseases that are commonly seen in these illegally traded birds. Issues surrounding decisions for euthanasia, for incorporating birds into a breeding program, and for releasing birds back into the wild are also discussed.