Landbird Monitoring Network of the Americas
Avian Influenza Research Project

Detecting and Monitoring Avian Influenza Occurrence and
   Movement through Bird Populations in the Americas

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, such as H5N1, is a rapidly emerging issue for the health and safety of the nation and the world, potentially having profound effects on human health and the basic infrastructure of health delivery and the economy. Furthermore, the deleterious effects of H5N1 and any of the other 143 known sub-types of influenza A found in bird populations (including landbirds) could markedly affect the management and conservation of avian populations for years to come. At this nexus, bird-banding networks have a unique opportunity to provide a service to the public by providing the field sampling vital for disease surveillance and important information on disease dynamics and diversity.

LaMNA, The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), and UCLA’s Center for Tropical Research (UCLA) are coordinating landbird sampling on a continental scale during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Our collective objectives are to catalogue the occurrence and distribution of avian influenza sub-types, identify transmission paths in North American migratory birds, and to further the goal of developing custom vaccines against Influenza A. LaMNA member participation is a vital link in the project and complements the sampling occurring at MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survival) stations during the breeding season and MoSI (Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal) stations in Central America during migration.

We began sampling in spring of 2006. Since then, over 30,000 viral samples and 16,000 feathers have been collected at LaMNA, MAPS, and MoSi stations. Samples are currently being tested by CTR, using cutting-edge techniques. Together with scientists from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), UCLA has developed methods that will allow them to genetically detect 50% more strains of AIV than are detected by methods currently used as the gold standard for waterfowl samples. UCLA provided a brief write-up on their progress for the May 2008 LaMNA newsletter (see page 2). More information is available on their website: http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/ctr/research/AvPath/avian_influenza_main.html.

We strongly urge members of LaMNA to participate in avian influenza sampling during the fall migration of 2008. Contact C. John Ralph () or Linda Long () for further details.

Publications and Reports

• Proposal for Avian Influenza Rapid Assessment by Using Existing Constant-effort Monitoring Networks, C. John Ralph, Ken Rosenberg, and Terrell D. Rich. 2006.
• Capture and Banding of Landbirds Using Mist Nets: Job Hazard Analysis. C. John Ralph, Linda L. Long, Josée Rousseau, Sherri Miller, and Kim Hollinger. 2006. Available in hard copy or pdf from Linda Long () or C. John Ralph (). This formal document has been approved by the USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station, meeting all prevailing federal requirements. Appendices include guidelines for wild bird handling, related to avian influenza, from USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Ornithological Council, Environment Canada - National Wildlife Research Centre, and United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.

Web sites on Avian Influenza

• Avian Influenza and Handling Wild Birds
  • Avian Influenza: U.S.G.S. Wildlife Health Center
    • Interim Guidelines for the Protection of Persons Handling Wild Birds With Reference to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1
  • The Ornithological Council: Avian Influenza
    • Avian Influenza: What ornithologists and bird banders should know
  • Fact Sheet: Guidance on precautions for the handling of wild birds: Canadian Wildlife Service
  • Avian influenza (Bird flu): Avian influenza wild bird surveillance: United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
• General Information on Avian Influenza and AI Research
  • University of California at Los Angeles' Center for Tropical Research: Avian Influenza Virus in North American Migratory Birds
  • U.S.G.S. Division of Migratory Bird Management: Avian Influenza in Wild Birds - Sources of Information
  • NBII National HPAI Early Detection Data System: National Avian Influenza Surveillance Information:
  • University of California, Davis: Avian Influenza: News, Information, and Research
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
  • World Health Organization: Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR): Avian Influenza

Contacts

For further information on the Avian Influenza Project, contact C. John Ralph, USFS Redwood Sciences Laboratory, .

Webmaster: Linda L. Long,
Updated June 13, 2008