Comment in birdlovers (by me) - felt like I'd post it here.

[gemfyre]

Having just spent 9 months in close proximity with migratory waders (east Asian Australasian flyway) I've learned a bit and formed some opinions.

- Migratory waders breed in an area where they barely ever come into contact with humans.
- The main risk zone would be their stopover in China. This happens on the northward migration.
- Sick birds will be unable to migrate or complete their migration.
- Apparently bird flu is transmitted like any other flu - via droplets. I'm not awfully familiar with waders sneezing.
- I've been pooped on and scratched by waders. I've handled waders and eaten while I'm still banding/measuring whatever. I'm still healthy as a horse.
- An AQIS vet (Aussie quarantine) often took blood and cloacal samples from the netted birds. Found no trace of bird flu.
- I'm dreading the day when some moron starts killing migratory waders because he thinks they're a threat. We should be getting the humans away from the birds so they don't get it. The way I see it, these birds are more likely to contract bird flu from US rather than vice-versa.

Comments

[stawberi.livejournal.com]

The embassy updates tell us to be wary of bird droppings, but honestly I cannot see wild birds as the problem.

[firvulag.livejournal.com]

the embassy is usually only slightly more helpful and less misinformed than the media though.

I had a customer during the regular "how you doing?" conversation say something about bird flu, so i got to tell them the little i know about how wrong the media are by making it sound like you'll get it when you see a bird :)