Date:         Wed, 13 Dec 2006 06:58:01 -0500
Reply-To:     andy young <modius@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         andy young <modius@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      GADNR capture shorebirds on Tybee's North Beach
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

there are also some great photos to accompany the story online at:

http://savannahnow.com/node/195888

Shorebirds monitored for avian flu
Coastal Empire | Local News
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS | Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 12:30 am




Biologists from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources captured
shorebirds Tuesday at the north end of Tybee Island as part of a
nationwide program to monitor avian flu.

By the end of the day, they had taken fecal samples from 18 ruddy
turnstones, nine purple sandpipers and 23 sanderlings.

All the birds are arctic breeders, a migratory habit that could put
them in contact with birds carrying the virus.

The monitoring is strictly precautionary - the highly pathogenic
avian influenza strain of H5N1 present in Asia, Africa and Europe has
never been found in the United States. But the virus has caused human
illness and death in other nations where people have handled or have
been in close contact with infected birds.

Federal and state biologists are capturing and sampling birds in
every state as part of cooperative effort in the early detection of
the virus in wild birds. Federal agencies involved include the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human
Services and the Department of the Interior.

DNR biologists have sampled birds from the Brunswick area regularly
throughout the fall, said Brad Winn, program manager with the non-
game conservation section. They use the opportunity to gather basic
biological data on migratory shorebirds.

On that count, Tuesday's capture of purple sandpipers was a success.







deb barreiro

tybee, chatham

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