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On October 26, 2023, in Huizhou, Li Jinmin, former director of the Institute of Semiconductors at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the National Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Lighting Innovation, emphasized the expanding scale of China’s LED display market as technology advances and application scenarios broaden.

The remarks were made during the 20th anniversary celebration of Zhouming Technology and the Global Ecological Partners Conference held in Daya Bay, Guangdong. The event brought together industry associations, designers, experts, domestic and international partners, and investors to discuss the future trends and extensive applications of display technology. Lin Mingfeng, chairman of Zhouming Technology, shared that his company is a leader in the global display industry, boasting the world’s largest smart manufacturing base for LED displays. The company operates research and development centers in China, Japan, and the United States, and has an extensive sales network covering over 160 countries and regions, alongside deep collaborations with more than 5,600 partners and more than 20 overseas branches.

Li Jinmin reflected on the evolution of China’s LED industry, noting its transformation from following to competing and eventually leading in certain sectors. “Over the past 20 years, China has become the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of LEDs. Overall, we have a comprehensive industrial chain in semiconductor lighting, with key equipment fully localized and a leading position in patent applications globally,” he stated. According to the China Optical Optoelectronic Industry Association, the overall scale of China’s LED display market reached 75 billion RMB in 2023.

Currently, the application scenarios for LED displays in China are continuously expanding. For instance, regarding X-ray virtual studios, more than ten Chinese companies have entered the XR virtual production solutions market, creating the world’s largest supply chain for this technology. In terms of cinema displays and sound-transparent screens, over 20 models have received DCI certification and are gradually being implemented in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Furthermore, shipments of LED integrated systems have shown stable growth for three consecutive years, with over 5,000 units sold last year in mainland China, representing a 15% year-on-year increase. Micro-LED technology is also beginning to find applications in wearable electronics and high-end large-sized televisions.

Li pointed out that the LED display industry currently faces significant opportunities driven by policy direction, technological advancements, and content upgrades. With the push for small pitch and Mini-LED display products, both domestic and international markets for LED displays are expected to continue growing. In 2023, the combined revenues of six major listed companies in the LED display sector—Zhouming Technology, Leyard, Absen, Lehman Optoelectronics, Lianjian Optoelectronics, and Aoto Electronics—amounted to 21.783 billion RMB, accounting for 30% of the overall market; the top 20 companies’ sales comprised 50% of the national total.

LED display companies are evolving from mere product manufacturers to providers of system solutions, focusing on integration, high density, and miniaturization with Mini/Micro LED technology. During the global ecological partners conference, Zhouming Technology showcased its achievements in various niche areas such as Mini/Micro LED, virtual filming, and stage rental, unveiling its latest products.

On October 24th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Doha, Qatar, as reported by AFP, with plans to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza with Qatari officials who are acting as mediators.

This marks Blinken’s 11th visit to the Middle East since the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, following prior trips to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

According to sources, Hamas’s political bureau is headquartered in Qatar, and Blinken’s visit aims to explore ways to facilitate the resumption of ceasefire negotiations for the Gaza Strip.

On October 21, during his ongoing participation in the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Lima, Peru, Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, took the opportunity to discuss the latest economic developments in Hong Kong. He emphasized the city’s unique position as an international financial center and a “super connector.”

In a session focused on global and regional economic and financial outlooks, Chan highlighted Hong Kong’s economic situation and reaffirmed the city’s strong commitment to rules-based free trade and multilateralism. He asserted that Hong Kong plays a vital bridging role between traditional and emerging markets, particularly in advancing the regional digital economy and innovative technologies.

During discussions on sustainable finance and infrastructure, Chan elaborated on Hong Kong’s function as an international financial hub. He noted the city’s efforts to effectively match funding with green projects and infrastructure initiatives. By leveraging financial innovation and collaborating with international organizations, Hong Kong is working to securitize infrastructure loans from various regions and issue catastrophe bonds, thereby directing more international funding toward projects in developing countries. This, he indicated, will significantly aid their infrastructure development and address the challenges posed by climate change. He also shared insights into Hong Kong’s latest initiatives in green and transition finance.

Additionally, Chan participated in discussions on the development of digital finance, offering examples of Hong Kong’s experiences in enhancing fintech and promoting inclusive financial practices.

Throughout the Finance Ministers’ Meeting, Chan held bilateral discussions with South Korea’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Choi Sang-mok, as well as with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Vu Thanh Nguyen.

Study offers actions Biden can take after surge in child labor violations and warns protections may weaken under Trump
Michael SainatoWed 16 Oct 2024 07.00 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Oct 2024 07.01 EDTShareState governments across the US are taking steps to eliminate protections for minors as rates of child labor violations, injuries and chronic school absenteeism rise, according to a report released on Wednesday.
The report by Governing For Impact, the Economic Policy Institute, and Child Labor Coalition proposes actions the Biden-Harris administration can take in response to a recent surge in child labor violations around the country and a trend of some states passing legislation that rollbacks state-level child labor protections.
Its authors also warn that moves to weaken child protections will likely escalate under a second Trump presidency.
Injury rates among workers under the age of 18 nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020. All child labor violations almost increased by four times between 2015 and 2022, and hazard occupation violations more than doubled during the same time period.
At the same time, legislators in more than 30 states have moved to weaken child labor protections since 2021, often citing claims of labor shortages and backed by industry groups in these pushes. The report noted these rollbacks at the state level have often either conflicted with federal law or sowed confusion among employers over which are applicable to them, leading to more child labor violations.
Project 2025, a conservative guide for a second Trump administration, which aligns closely with Donald Trump’s policies and was authored and promoted by numerous former Trump officials and allies, advocates for rolling back child labor protections, the report cites.
“Some young adults show an interest in inherently dangerous jobs,” Project 2025 claims. “With parental consent and proper training, certain young adults should be allowed to learn and work in more dangerous occupations.”
“If Trump wins, we know what to expect. He will try to weaken and loosen child labor protections. He did that in his first term,” said Reid Maki, director of child labor advocacy and coordinator at the Child Labor Coalition. “They’ll look for weak points, or use some false arguments to try to weaken protections.”
He noted the Trump administration attempted several rollbacks of child labor protections, including an effort to roll back hazardous occupation rules for child workers in nursing homes and rolling back a ban on the pesticide chlorpyrifos, despite its ties to childhood brain damage, and pushing to allow child workers to apply dangerous pesticides.
“We need to look for ways to make work safer for kids and not expose them to unnecessary hazards, added Maki. “We’re particularly concerned about the idea that tobacco has never been added to the list of hazardous occupations, and we know that kids in the US are farming tobacco, are harvesting tobacco, and they’re getting sick while doing it.”
In light of these ongoing policy efforts to further roll back current child labor protections, the report argues the US Department of Labor should strengthen current child labor protections to address the recent increases in child labor violations across the US.
“Even with full-throated enforcement of these regulations, it’s not enough to sort of protect kids from what’s going on now in the economy,” said Reed Shaw, policy counsel at Governing for Impact and co-author of the report.
“In recent years, states have been dropping their protections below the federal minimum, which serves to confuse employers and employees about what their actual protections are, so a revised federal regulation that is more clear for loopholes and exemptions would just serve as a more of a bright line rule for employers,” added Shaw. “The legal authority is there, the empirical data is there. And so it’s time for the Department of Labor to implement some of these changes to protect workers.”
The report argued the wage and hour division at the US labor department should expand the list of hazardous occupations, increase protections for child workers in hazardous agricultural jobs for the first time in nearly 60 years, and issue regulations prohibiting employers from scheduling certain child workers for overnight shifts and requiring rest breaks and one day off per week for others.
The report also argues the student-learner and apprenticeship exemptions should be closed and that additional funding and personnel need to be provided to the US Department of Labor to address these child labor issues.
The US Department of Labor declined to enact several recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in 2007 for administrative reasons, but the report argues the department should reassess and enact the rest of those recommendations.
These include creating new hazardous occupation orders, revising existing hazardous occupations, closing exemptions to certain hazardous occupations.
The report also noted regulations to protect child workers have not been updated substantially since 2010, while most are far older.
Kansas cult leaders convicted of making children work 16-hour days without payRead moreWork hours should also be revised to protect child workers given chronic school absenteeism and increases in injuries and child labor violations, it argues, recommending the US Department of Labor wage and hour division begin a notice and comment rule-making process to expand breaks for 14- and 15-year-old workers, prohibit overnight hours for 16- and 17-year-old workers, and issue a ban on overnight shifts for agricultural workers under the age of 16.
An effort to enact child labor restrictions in the agricultural sector was abandoned in 2012 after an aggressive industry lobby campaign against it.
Nina Mast, policy and economic analyst at the Economic Policy Institute and a co-author of the report, said: “At the time when we’re seeing violations on the rise, and we’re simultaneously seeing states go back on their commitment to raising standards to be above federal minimums, I think it’s really urgent that we address our federal standards and raise them for children across the country who may be working in hazardous environments or in an environment that is not appropriate for someone of their age.”

On October 15, the Beijing Housing Provident Fund Management Center (referred to as the “Housing Fund Center”) announced a new initiative aimed at enhancing the efficiency and quality of personal housing loan services backed by the housing provident fund. This announcement, detailed in a notice titled “Notice on Implementing Pilot Work to Improve the Quality and Efficiency of Housing Provident Fund Personal Housing Loan Services,” outlines a series of measures designed to elevate the service experience for borrowers.

**Introducing Three Convenient Service Models**

The notice introduces three new service models aimed at increasing accessibility for housing loans:

1. **Same-Day Processing at Service Centers**: Borrowers can apply for provident fund loans at designated service counters. If they meet the loan application criteria—such as having a property evaluation completed for second-hand homes or verification that a new property has reached the appropriate construction stage— staff can complete the initial and final review, as well as conduct a face-to-face signing, all on the same day.

2. **Online Application with Home Signing**: Borrowers can apply for loans online, with partnering commercial banks providing on-site signing services under the guidance of the Housing Fund Center. This eliminates the need for borrowers to visit a counter.

3. **Authorized Agency Services**: Bank personnel, upon obtaining a borrower’s authorization, can submit loan applications on their behalf at the Housing Fund Center’s counters, allowing borrowers to avoid unnecessary travel.

**Enhancing Borrower Experience**

The Housing Fund Center is focused on improving service delivery through innovative models, streamlined processes, and efficient online communication:

– **Experience Upgrade 1: Simplified Application Procedures**: Borrowers can now use a commercial loan application form to submit their information. Second-hand home evaluations will be conducted in advance, with results transferred electronically, allowing eligible applicants a “zero-materials” application process.

– **Experience Upgrade 2: Reduced Wait Times**: If applicants meet the necessary criteria at the counter—such as having an evaluation completed—they can sign loan agreements the same day, significantly speeding up the process from application to contract signing.

– **Experience Upgrade 3: Fewer Trips Required**: The variety of service models means that borrowers are no longer limited to visiting a counter once. Depending on their situation, borrowers can either conduct their transactions in-person on the same day or access services remotely, without needing to travel.

– **Experience Upgrade 4: Streamlined Mortgage Processes**: After property transactions are completed, borrowers can use a WeChat mini-program to upload property ownership certificates, allowing them to manage documents without leaving their home.

**Same-Day Service Possible**

According to a spokesperson from the Housing Fund Center, preliminary trials at select loan sites and banks have shown a marked increase in efficiency and convenience. The same-day service for second-hand home loans has been particularly well-received, completing all necessary steps—evaluation, reviews, and face-to-face signing—within one day.

For first-hand combined loans where banks conduct face-to-face signings at the borrower’s location, the process can be wrapped up within three working days. The new service model also facilitates in-home signing for instances where meeting in person poses challenges, ensuring high satisfaction among buyers and sellers alike.

Currently, eleven commercial banks are collaborating with the Housing Fund Center to offer these services, with the initial banks involved being Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, Beijing Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and China Construction Bank. The Housing Fund Center plans to continue working with additional banks to refine and implement these services further.

On October 16, a rally was held at City Hall Park in Manhattan, organized by the coalition Hedge Clippers, comprised of unions and progressive groups. The event targeted the education advocacy organization “PLACE NYC,” claiming it is controlled by far-right billionaires who spread anti-LGBTQ+, anti-trans, and racially discriminatory rhetoric and policies within the New York education system. City Council member Erik Bottcher spoke at the rally.

Hedge Clippers released a report alleging that PLACE NYC’s founders, Jia Ting and Maud Maron, were once leaders at the “Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism” (FAIR), which has ties to the conservative think tank, the Manhattan Institute, sharing numerous donors from the far-right billionaire class. The report contends that these billionaires manipulate Jia and Maud to promote right-wing agendas in New York schools, endangering the safety of Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ students. Among the attendees at the rally were state senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Jabari Brisport.

In response, Jia Ting dismissed the accusations as “fabricated and unfounded,” asserting that PLACE NYC has always operated as a grassroots initiative driven by passionate parents dedicated to maintaining high educational standards, and that the organization has never accepted money for its activities. Regarding the criticisms of anti-LGBTQ+ and racially discriminatory views, Jia emphasized that PLACE NYC’s mission has always been to uphold rigorous teaching standards, stressing that individual members’ statements do not represent the organization as a whole.

Jia noted her personal connections with many LGBTQ+ friends and explained that as a parent, she believes parents play a crucial role in helping teens navigate their paths in exploring gender identity. “As a tomboy during my own adolescence, I recognize that misleading external opinions could have influenced my decisions,” she said.

Meanwhile, Maud Maron faced controversy earlier this year when she was removed from her position on the Manhattan District 2 school board by then-education chancellor David Banks for denying the existence of transgender children in a private chat. Maud maintains her stance from that conversation, arguing that “defending the rights of girls and women does not equate to being against transgender individuals.”

The latest data from the Education Department reveals that when categorizing students into different admission priority “levels,” factors such as race, family income, disability status, and English proficiency have emerged as significant influences. New York City’s high school application process is notoriously competitive and complex. For most high schools, the GPA from core subjects in seventh grade is the most crucial determinant of whether applicants can gain entry into top-tier schools.

This year, eighth-grade applicants will be classified into five levels based on their seventh-grade core course grades. Level One represents students in the top 15% citywide (with a GPA of at least 94.25%) or in the top 15% of their respective school (with a GPA of at least 90%). Conversely, Level Five represents the bottom 30% of students, with average grades below 76%. Generally, students must achieve a Level One ranking to be considered for selective schools, as lower levels lead to fewer options; those in Level Five have the lowest admission priority.

Recent application statistics show that while Asian students make up only 13.3% of total applicants, they constitute an impressive 31.6% of Level One students, totaling 4,200—more than any other racial group. Following this, White and Latino students have a higher presence in Level One than African American students, who see the least representation with only 1,300 attaining this level.

Moreover, English Language Learners (ELLs) are 2.5 times more likely to be placed in the lowest Level Five compared to their English-proficient peers. This year, only 185 ELLs made it to Level One, while a staggering 5,100 were assigned to Level Five. Similarly, students with disabilities faced unfavorable outcomes, with nearly 13 times as many classified in Level Five compared to those in Level One.

Julia Zhang, founder of PLACE NYC, notes, “Math used to be a subject that transcended language.” For new immigrants from China, math is often their strongest subject. However, in recent years, math instruction has increasingly focused on the language aspects rather than problem-solving skills, which has hindered new immigrants from showcasing their mathematical strengths. Additionally, she believes that the pandemic has caused many new immigrant students to lose their English learning environments, resulting in “irreversible damage” to their English abilities.

On October 20, 2023, a significant gathering of over a thousand international guests convened to address a pressing question: How can we accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals?

The Second Tongzhou Global Development Forum, held from October 18 to 20, was hosted by Renmin University of China. In his keynote address, Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia and Chair of the World Leaders Alliance, emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and analyzing development visions for 2030 and 2050.

In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, actions to expedite sustainable development are more critical than ever. Speaking at the forum, Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, highlighted the compounded crises and increasing global uncertainties we face. He asserted the urgent need for dynamic new pathways to tackle these issues through global cooperation and collective action.

Reflecting on the current global context, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Omurbek Babanov, articulated the forum’s mission: uniting for common goals, discussing effective globalization strategies, and envisaging new chapters in modernization.

Adding to the conversation, John Howarth, former Director of the London Economic and Business Policy Institute, and recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, noted that the world has entered a transformative phase. He described two distinct paths moving forward: one championed by China’s concept of a shared human destiny, advocating interdependence and cooperation, and the other representing a zero-sum approach that fosters division and loss.

As Howarth highlighted, the choices made by nations will significantly impact humanity’s collective interests, determining whether we cultivate a unified world or fall into a competitive, win-lose dynamic.

The forum’s theme, “Building a Community for Development and Creating a New Era for Humanity,” featured two plenary sessions and 11 sub-forums. Participants engaged in discussions on global governance, green development, cultural exchange, and the vitality of youth innovation.

Former Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Jacek Kuczynski, urged for a unified global response to pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and green development. He called for consensus building and increased dialogue to combat conflicts with reason, seek win-win cooperation, and drive the establishment of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Chen Zhou, Deputy Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, expressed hopes for political parties worldwide to create a “symbiotic development community” focused on people-centered principles, mutual growth, and multilateral cooperation.

Professor Qian Chengdan from Peking University emphasized the importance of acknowledging the diversity of civilizations and recognizing the equal rights of nations to choose their own development paths without a one-size-fits-all “correct” direction.

During the forum, Renmin University released a report titled “Humanity 2050: Comprehensive Human and Social Development.” The report underscored China’s commitment to sustainable development goals through the concepts of a community with a shared future for mankind and a global development initiative, illustrating a fusion of China’s modernization efforts with global sustainable development.

Devrat Gulong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), praised China’s significant achievements in South-South cooperation, poverty alleviation, technological innovation, and infrastructure development, highlighting China’s role as a leader in promoting world peace and development.

According to Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party, the transformative progress under the leadership of the Communist Party of China represents a notable instance of how party capability can facilitate modern advancement. He noted the critical importance of cooperation among Global South countries, urging unity and collaboration to enhance their collective role on the international stage and infuse a new era of meaning into the pursuit of global prosperity and a shared human future.

Many tribes regard salmon as a sacred symbol and have long advocated for the removal of dams. Recently, operators agreed to this after finding that the maintenance costs for the dams were simply too high. According to U.S. wildlife officials, this week marked the observation of the first salmon making its way upstream to historic habitats since the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. It is believed that this is the first time since 1912 that salmon have returned from the ocean to these waters, prompting tribal leaders to exclaim, “They remember their home.”

In 2016, officials from California and Oregon signed an agreement to dismantle four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, a significant step in one of the largest river restoration projects in U.S. history. Previously, these dams had blocked salmon from migrating from the Pacific to spawn upstream, with the dismantling process recently completed.

A report from the San Francisco Chronicle noted that wildlife officials announced on the 17th that a Chinook salmon had been spotted in an upstream tributary of the Klamath River, indicating that the fish had successfully navigated through the former dam areas and was returning to its historical spawning grounds.

The news sparked excitement among officials, conservationists, and scientists, leading to extensive discussions in the community.

“Salmon remember where they come from,” said Frankie Myers, a leader of the Yurok Tribe, expressing his enthusiasm over the event.

The four dams on the Klamath River were built in the early 1900s, significantly hampering the salmon’s migratory patterns and reproduction, leading to drastic population declines.

Officials reported that the Chinook salmon traveled 230 miles (370 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean to the Klamath River basin in Oregon, believed to be the first of its kind to return to this area since 1912.

This Chinook salmon is part of the fall-run population, the largest salmon group in the Klamath River, and holds great significance for California’s fisheries.

The journey from advocating for the dam removals to seeing them come to fruition has been a challenging and prolonged effort. Many tribes consider salmon to be a sacred symbol and consistently lobbied for the dams’ removal, ultimately leading operators to agree due to high maintenance costs.

Collaboration has been key, with the federal government, state agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, and scientists all working closely to monitor salmon passing through the former dam sites.

The monitoring team employed sonar cameras and video stations for their assessments. Initially, many expected salmon to take longer to reach these newly accessible waters because sediment left in the river after the dam removal had clouded the water.

On October 3, scientists first observed a salmon swimming past the southernmost point of the now-removed Iron Gate Dam through sonar cameras. Since then, dozens of Chinook salmon have successfully crossed that area.

Bob Pagliuco, a habitat restoration expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), stated that Chinook salmon typically live in the ocean for two to three years before returning to their birthplace to spawn. Their survival instincts enable them to adapt to environment changes and thrive in new locations, which is why he wasn’t surprised to see the fish venture into unfamiliar waters.

“What surprises me is how quickly this process is unfolding,” Pagliuco said, noting that he had anticipated a longer period before the salmon began exploring the newly opened areas.

Additionally, on the 15th, field workers discovered a dead salmon that had spawned upstream from the Iron Gate Dam, along with a fish nest found among gravel in the creek, indicating signs of spawning and confirming that salmon may already be in the process of reproduction.

While the Chinook salmon are gradually returning to their native waters, most scientists believe that it could take three to five generations—approximately ten years or longer—for the fish populations to fully restore the ecosystem to what it was over a century ago.

More than 94,000 birds have died at Tule Lake wildlife refuge in northern California, its worst recorded epidemic
Douglas MainWed 16 Oct 2024 06.00 EDTShareAn ongoing outbreak of botulism, a bacterial illness that causes muscle paralysis, has killed more than 94,000 birds at Tule Lake national wildlife refuge in northern California, the worst such outbreak at the lake ever recorded, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Affected birds often cannot control their muscles and suffocate in the water, said biologist and ornithologist Teresa Wicks with Bird Alliance of Oregon, who works in the area. “It’s a very traumatic thing to see,” Wicks said.
Though local in scale, the outbreak and catastrophic die-off are tied to global problems including declining wetlands, increasing demand for limited water resources, hydrological diversions and a warming climate.
These kinds of outbreaks can happen around the world and the phenomenon seems to be on the rise, according to Andrew Farnsworth, a scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who studies bird migration.
“Given warming temperatures, droughts, then intense periods of rain followed by drying … the hallmarks of climate change are all over this,” Farnsworth said.
The pestilence is caused by a toxin produced by a specific type of bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) that thrives in the area’s warm, stagnant, low water levels. Botulism can also affect people, though no human cases have been reported in this instance. Other outbreaks have been reported around the world, but generally cause far fewer deaths. A botulism outbreak in 2020 caused by similar conditions killed an estimated 60,000 birds at Tule Lake.
The Klamath Basin, of which the refuge is a part, has been disrupted by human-made dams and irrigation canals for more than a century. The developments and diversions eliminated more than 90% of the area’s wetlands.
View image in fullscreenA bird skull sits on the ground at the Tule Lake national wildlife refuge on 2 October in the town of Tulelake, California. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesTule Lake is an ancient water body, whose levels swelled and ebbed but always remained, for hundreds of thousands of years. Historically, the lake and nearby wetlands would fill with water during the winter rains. Now the water supply comes almost entirely from irrigation canals.
In 2021, the lake dried up entirely for the first time in recorded history. In October 2023, local drainage districts and the US government’s Bureau of Reclamation released water into the lake. Birds quickly returned.
But this summer, water levels declined again and avian influenza killed hundreds of birds. Then the botulism outbreak began.
In response to an outcry from advocacy groups, the bureau delivered more than 5,000 acre-feet of water to the lake, slowing the outbreak. But no more was delivered and by late August, more than 1,000 birds were dying every day. Similar numbers died throughout September and into October. The death toll is almost certain to surpass 100,000.
Scientists say they are hopeful the outbreak will cease once cold, freezing weather returns, hopefully later in October.
“Although botulism is naturally occurring, the scope of this outbreak is disheartening,” said John Vradenburg, supervisory biologist with the Klamath Basin national wildlife refuge. “Wetlands are declining across the western US due to changes in the climate, alteration in ecosystem function and increasing demand on limited water resources.”
Tule Lake and nearby water bodies provide a vital stopping point on the Pacific flyway, which millions of birds migrate along every year. According to Ducks Unlimited, a conservation and hunting group, the numbers of birds using the flyway in California are down 25% this year compared with 2023, and down 30% from recent historical averages.
Many types of migratory waterbirds and shorebirds have died, including northern shovelers, pintails and American widgeons. Mallards, gadwalls, coots, sandpipers and wading birds including avocets, black-neck stilts and long-billed dowitchers have also been killed.
Wildlife rehabilitators Marie Travers and January Bill and their organization Bird Ally X have treated about 1,500 affected animals in a field hospital for birds, and successfully released more than 900. There is no cure for the botulism toxin, but given supportive care and a low-stress environment, most birds can recover over the course of a week or so, they said.
The group had to quit collecting birds to treat on 5 October with the start of duck-hunting season.
Forgotten epidemic: with over 280 million birds dead how is the avian flu outbreak evolving?Read moreIn the long term, a return of wetlands and a more sustainable, natural flow of water will be necessary to prevent this from happening again, Wicks said. Several large dams have now been removed from the Klamath, and discussions are taking place about improving the system, which mostly means letting it function as it did before human meddling.
The conversations “make it feel more hopeful that we can find a solution to the problem”, Wicks said.
As it is now, however, Tule Lake and surrounding wetlands have the most junior water rights, below agriculture and other human uses. “Such an important refuge for migratory birds has just been allowed to disappear” at times, Bill said.
“There aren’t enough people that can advocate for the birds getting the water they need to stay alive,” Travers said.
This story is co-published with the New Lede, a journalism project of the Environmental Working Group