Reports re wild birds being killed (and scared off) in attempts to lower H5N1 risks seem to be increasing.
- despite scientific evidence being that they can't sustain H5N1.

In Thailand some time ago, Prime Minister Thaksin threatened to cull openbill storks when some (around 8?) died with H5N1. Happily, didn't do so.

Lately, seen re:

Vietnam starting attempts to kill all wild birds in at least two cities (halted).

UAE clearing coastline of birds (not sure how).

Couple of Middle Eastern countries announced plans to drain wetlands to reduce waterbird numbers (maybe hasn't happened - yet)

In Crimea, "wild bird reservoirs [of H5N1]" being removed.

Russia main killer of birds it seems.
Been reports re wild birds killed near infected farms.

Now:

in REGNUM, probably the same source:
http://www.regnum.ru/news/577831.html
Anatoliy Kvashnin: "in Siberia are possible the outbreaks of
bird influenza and for this it is necessary to be prepared"

Plenipotentiary noted that it is necessary to clearly determine
all populated areas, which are been located next to the reservoirs,
on which was possible the contact of wild and poultry.
"in the dangerous places is important not to allow nesting
wild birds by all existing means", he stated Anatoliy Kvashnin.
Plenipotentiary also emphasized the need organizing the
corresponding safeguards at the poultry processing facilities.

Using the original Russian phrase "not to allow nesting wild birds",
the following articles have been easily reached:
http://nsk.ru/news/gorod/136735/
"Wild to birds they will forbid to twist the nest"
(see photo

Opinions:
Guest RRR: You press flies, decrease birth rate, destroy your sparrows.
Guest: ... let to Africa it flies to lead to the birds, that on the
spring will here jerk...
http://www.rambler.ru/db/news/msg.html?mid=7225023&amp;s=260005039 http://www.ria-sibir.ru/viewnews/12867.html<br><br>Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/03/07 05:29

15:33 31Jan2006 RTRS-Romanians torture and kill wild birds near Danube

BUCHAREST, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Romanians have been torturing and
killing wild birds stranded by freezing weather close to where the
country's first bird flu outbreak was detected in October, a wildlife
organisation said on Tuesday.
&quot;Around 15 young men, aged between 20 and 25, were catching the
birds, throwing them in the air, using birds which were still living as
soccer balls, and tearing off their heads,&quot; Razvan Popescu, director of
the Oceanic Club wildlife protection organisation told Reuters.
The birds had been too cold and tired to fly as temperatures
plummeted as low as minus 20 Celsius near the Danube delta.
&quot;There were up to 100 migratory birds, ducks, geese and coots,&quot;
Popescu said.
He said the Oceanic Club had been doing checks on migratory birds as
the lakes and rivers froze when they saw the men playing with the birds.
Veterinarians said samples were taken from some of the dead birds
and tested for bird flu. They came out negative.
Romania has found avian flu in poultry in 26 villages since October,
but has recorded no human cases.
Health Ministry officials said doctors were now monitoring the men
because many of the people who have contracted bird flu worldwide had
had close contact with infected birds.
((ROMANIA-BIRDS; Reporting by Aurora Martiniuc; Writing by Antonia
Oprita; Editing by Alison Williams; Reuters Messaging ))

Environmental police have been contacted; some measures being taken to avert repeats of such woeful lunacy.

Mar 06, Colombo: People of the Rathnapura area are chasing away the
large flocks of birds which add beauty and fame to the famous gem
city of Sri Lanka.

Fire crackers and other methods used to chase the migrant birds which
gather in large numbers during the season have become a nuisance to
both the birds and people. Panic created after the eruption of bird
flu in neighbouring India has already affected the poultry industry
in Sri Lanka.

Provincial Deputy Director of Health Mr. D.A.B. Dangalle has prompted
the epidemiology department of the Colombo National Hospital to
conduct an investigation and the research carried out by a team of
doctors of the Peradeniya Veterinary Research Institute has proved
that Rathnapura birds cause no health hazard. They examined a number
of poultry farms in the area as chickens are the most prone to the
epidemic.
People chase Rathnapura birds in fear of bird flu

from correspondent in Germany:

I realised, that the situation was out of control in Germany. At work I had applications for removal of House Martin nests (I work in the department of Species Conservation of the city of Berlin), veterinarians closed down our wild bird rescue station, and I was asked, whether children still could play in parks. In eastern Germany the first White Stork nests are to be removed, and in one state in SW-Germany a law to shot down ervery strange flying bird is in serious discussion.

&quot;For dealing with the bird influenza in the Altai they organize &quot;noise campaign&quot; and will solve the hunting&quot;:

The plan of measures for opposition to the propagation of the virus
of bird influenza is affirmed in the Altai. As reports correspondent
IA regnum, in contrast to previous, into this plan much new is
introduced. Besides vaccination, it is intended to solve
spring-summer hunting the planktonic bird and to organize &quot;noise
campaign&quot; in order to frighten away migratory birds in the regions,
which find on the way of their migration. They assume that such
regions it will be 17.

As they reported in the administration of veterinary science for
Altai edge, population will be drawn for creating the sound effects
&quot;it will be possible to knock by buckets and sticks. The main thing -
to create the factor of uneasiness for the birds &quot;, declare
veterinary surgeons.

In order not to give to migratory birds to nest and to enter the
contact with the domestic feathered, they will solve hunting.
Furthermore, birds they will drive off by noise.

spookily reminiscent of Mao's campaign vs &quot;sparrows&quot; (one of &quot;four evils&quot - people then letting off firecrackers, banging on woks etc etc, even at night. [see, eg, Wild Swans book by Jung Chang]

In China, &quot;sparrows&quot; thought to be grain-eating pests. In practice of course, many birds killed. Led to surge in insect pests; Mao had to stop sparrow campaign.


&quot;Learned ornithologists consider the shooting of birds useless (Saint Petersburg)&quot;:

Ornithologists consider the shooting of birds on the Baltic migratory
way useless from the point of view of protection from the virus of
the influenza of birds. As reports correspondent IA regnum, about
this today, on 6 March, the senior scientific worker of zoological
institute RAN [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] Vladimir khrabryy stated
at the press conference in Saint Petersburg. &quot;in the zoological
institute RAN [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] is comprised the letter,
signed by the director of the institute Aleksandr Alimov, in which
the scientists express their point of view to the problem: the
ornithologists do not have complete confidence, that the migratory
birds are the basic peddlers H5N1. Shooting itself we consider
harmful and medieval deystvom, 98% of hunters even do not
distinguish, at what birds they shoot &quot;, noted scientist.

According to Vladimir khrabry, migratory birds stop on the North
coast of Gulf of Finland from Lakhty to the fox nose, on south - from
Znamenki to the dam, and also around dam and Kronstadt, in the fields
around Saint Petersburg in Koltush region, Pushkin, Kolpina, krasnoe
selo, gorelova. 40 it is specific birds in Leningrad region they are
carried into the Red Books of different level, 8 it is specific - in
the Red Book RF, 23 - in the Red Book Of baltiki, 17 it is specific -
in the Red Book of Fennoscandia, 6 it is specific they are introduced
into the international Red Book. In Saint Petersburg they live
150-200 thousand gray crows, 300 thousand different winterring birds,
300 thousand seagulls of different it is specific. Daily each bird
eats 100-150 grams of different fodder, including food withdrawals.

Vladimir khrabryy reported also that soon the group of the scientists
of zoological institute RYBACHY [RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE] will leave
for the biological station on The Kuronian Spit in the environs of
Kaliningrad for the ringing of birds and their study. &quot;the yearly
scientists of institute ring 10 thousand birds on The Kuronian Spit. In this year it is intended to ring so many birds. Any means
of protection the scientists not had - it is not separated to this of
means, by any studies, connected with the influenza of birds they be
occupied also not will be &quot;, noted brave.

As reported today the chief specialist for the administration for the
veterinary science of the government of Saint Petersburg Valerie
yashina, on the urban dumps they will catch seagulls and cormorants
on the Finnish technology. Only the part of the birds, according to
The the yashinoy, is intended to kill with the aid of the carbon
dioxide. Yashina certified, that this will be done only &quot;for purposes
of the civilized regulation of synanthropic bird, as this occurs in
all civilized countries&quot;, but about the assumed quantity it did not
report the birds intended for the destruction.

Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/03/07 07:46<br><br>Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/03/07 09:21

seems reports coming from Russia are rather contradictory.

No shooting off of migratory birds in Russia to ward off avian flu

MOSCOW, March 7 (Itar-Tass) - There will be no shooting of migratory
birds in Russia as a measure to ward off avian flu, the general
director of the Center for Wildlife Protection said at a news
conference on Tuesday referring to instructions by the
Rospotrebnadzor consumer rights watchdog.

&quot;If we shoot off birds, we shall trigger an unpredictable scenario
of the epidemic with our own hands,&quot; Alexei Zimenko said. &quot;Birds
will start looking for quieter areas, while dead or wounded birds
will be a pray of predators and crows,&quot; he added. This will only
contribute to the spread of the epidemic, the specialist emphasized.
Besides, the shooting operation would be very costly, he said.

The president of the Russian Union for Bird Protection, Viktor
Zubakin, told the news conference that &quot;ornithologists advise not to
open a wild fowl hunting season this year&quot;. &quot;One can contract the
virus when disjointing fowl,&quot; he stressed.

According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations, about 1.5 million
domestic birds have already died of bird flu in Russia. Alone 752,000
of them have died in February and early in March. A mass arrival of
migratory birds is expected later.

Looking like there are plans to halt bird nesting in places seen as dangerous for H5N1 in Russia. As pointed out in one of items here, this could well have unforeseen negative consequences.

The prepared By rospotrebnadzorom detailed plan of measures for the
preventive maintenance of bird influenza in the territory of Russia
has as a goal the non-admission of nesting migratory birds in the
territory RF. On this, as transmits correspondent IA regnum, stated
today, on 7 March, in Moscow the general director of the center of
the protection of wild nature of Aleksey zimenko.

As noted Zimenko, an attempt at the interference of man in the
natural course of events can lead to the appearance of unforeseen
situations. Bird will begin to search for refuge, leaving the
customary places of nesting, podranki and dead birds they will be
reached to crows and by vagrant animal, which will become the reason
for the approximation of virus to settlings of people. The general
director of the center of the protection of wild nature reminded one
that entire koshachiye they were sensitive to the viruses. With
respect to dogs there are no such data as yet.
Rospotrebnadzor attempts not to allow nesting migratory birds in the territory
RF: Center of the protection of wild nature

The authorities of Novosibirskaya Oblast are intended not to allow in
spring nesting migratory birds in the territory of region.

In the Novosibirskaya Oblast in the lake the vats - the millennial
natural incubator of young animals of migratory bird - with the
offensive of spring are intended to fire back and to frighten away by
noise of those arriving flying into the region from the warm it is
boundary feathered, which causes healthy skepticism in the hunters:
in the coastal reeds of vats millions of chickens, ducklings and
other young verdure of wild bird yearly are derived.

The plenipotentiary representative of the President of Russia in SFO
Anatoliy kvashnin at the conference about the measures for the
prevention of bird influenza stated that it is necessary to clearly
determine all populated areas, which are been located next to the
reservoirs, on which was possible the contact of wild and poultry.
Provincial authorities are intended not to allow nesting the migratory birds

in the dangerous places is important not to allow nesting wild birds
by all existing means, it assumes. - throughout the entire territory
of Russia the most probable direction of the spread of bird influenza
precisely from Siberia. Since precisely through the regions of West
Siberia goes the mass overflight of wild birds.
http://veterinarian.ru/media/n5h1.htm

Ekologi: the destruction of crows in the city will lead to the dominance of the rats

The defenders of wild nature speak against the destruction of crows
in the Russian cities. Let us recall that the previously similar
method of fight with the bird influenza proposed the main sanitary
doctor of the country gennadi onishchenko. He said that &quot;the crows
must be mercilessly destroyed&quot;, because &quot;crow - is the feathered
wolf&quot;, that eats up carrion, including wild bird, and it can become
the source of the spread of bird influenza. The defenders of nature
assert that this it is not possible to make. &quot;if we destroy all crows
in the city, then the dominance of the rats, that are the peddlers of
many infections, will begin, and in this sense they are much more
dangerous than crows&quot;, it stated to journalists the colleague of the
center of the protection of wild nature Irina travina.

Furthermore, to get rid of the stir around the theme issued a call
the minister of agriculture of Russia. Minister called &quot;to the
calmness&quot; and he stated about the need of creating the special
&quot;staff&quot; at the Russian level, which could extend the specific
recommendations about how avoid bird influenza as fight with its
penetration to the territory of the country.

These are crazy times!
Fearmongering virologists and journalists seem to be having quite an impact re wild birds.

Had message re plans for swan killing in Les Dombes, France.

Now, just read of this report:

In the republic the Altai is counted 37 reservoirs, located near the
populated areas. There, for the purpose of the preventive maintenance
of bird influenza, special brigades will work on frightening off of
migratory birds. On this to the correspondent IA REGNUM On 22 March
they reported in the press- service of the government of republic the
Altai.

Is at present in the republic explanatory work on the preventive
maintenance of bird influenza in all official media expanded,
specialists carry out the inspection of the production of poultry
raising on the markets and in the stores, are conducted the circuits
of the owners of poultry stock per farm. In this case to the
inhabitants of villages are entrusted the reminders, in which are
specified the precautionary measures in the content of bird.

In the Altai there are 17 disinfection installations, they all in
running order. The government of republic isolated from the reserve
fund for 1,266 millions. rubles for the acquisition of the
specialized diagnostic laboratory, vaccine and armored clothing.
In the mountain Altai special brigades will frighten away migratory birds from
the reservoirs

http://www.regnum.ru/news/613096.html
&quot;During the studies of the authority Of buryatii they will learn to
frighten away birds and to carry out the podvorovye circuits&quot;

During the studies in The kabanskeye region in practice it will
worked out how frighten away birds, if they are collected to be
nested near the populated areas how to carry out podvorovye circuits,

Just received this news item, inc plans to stop birds breeding in Russia this spring.

Hope those who have blithely blamed wild birds for H5N1 spread will feel proud of playing a role in the witch hunt, and step forward to accept their share of blame for this and other things happening.
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=6389844&amp;PageNum=0

Russia loses half of farm poultry because of bird flu
14.04.2006, 20.07
???
TAMBOV, April 14 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia has lost nearly half of farm poultry because of bird flu, Chief Public Health Official and head of the Federal Consumer Rights and Human Well Being Service Gennady Onishchenko said at a Friday meeting of the Central Federal District Council.

“Bird flu has affected nine constituents of the Russian Federation,” Onishchenko said. “Wild birds will fly to Siberia in late April, and a pan-epidemic may spread onto the Urals. The bird flu forecast for the Central Federal District is favorable.”

“We do not expect the infection [in the Central Federation Region} that does not have much places for nesting,” Onishchenko said. “Yet the spring hunting season has been banned, and [b]specialists would try to prevent the nesting[/b].”

Some 150 million doses of bird flu vaccine for the inoculation of domestic birds are being bought from Vladimir and Stavropol factories. The majority of poultry farms of the Central Federal District are not ready for keeping their birds indoors. “This unpreparedness may fully deprive Russia of poultry farms,” Onishchenko said.

- can also see this poultry-farm created virus is doing massive damage to poultry industry. This is part of the real story (for this is bird flu, not human flu).

http://www.regnum.ru/news/628900.html
&quot;They will destroy wild birds in the Chita province for training purposes&quot;

On 25 April in the Chita province start the two-day commanding staff
studies of summary epizootic force on the fight with the bird
influenza. As they reported to the correspondent IA REGNUM in the
provincial administration of veterinary science, study they will pass
in the territory of Chita region - in the village Makkaveyevo.

Spacing system for the transport will be introduced during the
studies, the capture of vagrant birds and their utilization is
organized, the process of the vaccination of poultry is demonstrated,
are shown methods in the non-admission of contact on the reservoirs
of wild bird with the relative and further. In the opinion of
organizers, study they will make it possible to be convinced of the
readiness of the specialized services for the fight against the
outbreak of disease in the territory of Transbaykal.

From a correspondent:

Just came across this article. Appears the Russians are hell bent on blaming wild birds. I dread to think what &quot;The situation has been neutralized,&quot; means.
  http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11504418
 
Apr 25 2006 6:49PM

Epicenter of pandemic bird flu strain shifts to Russia - Onishchenko

MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - A bird flu pandemic is highly probable in Russia this summer, said Gennady Onishchenko, chief of Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's consumer rights watchdog.

&quot;The epicenter of the bird flu virus's pandemic strain formation has shifted to Russia,&quot; Onishchenko told a news conference on Tuesday.

Therefore, Rospotrebnadzor and other agencies' serious and successful work will largely determine when the pandemic strain strikes our planet, he said.

Due to unusually cold temperatures in the Southern Caspian region - in Iran and Turkey--and rather warm weather in southern Russia this year, migrating birds nested in unlikely places. &quot;This explains early bird flu outbreaks in Dagestan and other locations in the Southern Federal District,&quot; Onishchenko said.

&quot;The situation has been neutralized,&quot; Onishchenko added.

http://www.regnum.ru/news/631975.html
&quot;In Tyumen' Oblast the shooting of the wild birds began&quot;

Governor of Tyumen' Oblast Vladimir Yakushev signed order &quot;about the
measures for warning of the spread of the influenza of birds in the
spring-summer period of 2006&quot;. As they reported to the correspondent
IA REGNUM in the press- service of the governor of Tyumen' Oblast, in
the document it is discussed the organization of brigade on
frightening off and shooting of wild birds, besides carried into the
Red Books of the International Union for Conservation of nature and
natural resources and Russian Federation, about the delivery
permission to the shooting of birds.

Control of the performance of order is entrusted to the deputy
governor of Tyumen' Oblast, director of the department of the
agribusiness of Tyumen' Oblast on Vladimir Covina.

Seems there is madness sweeping through too much of Russia.
http://www.redbook.ru/index.php?name=Forums&amp;file=viewtopic&amp;p=326
&quot;Staff approached the work&quot;

On 28 March took place the first session of staff on the opposition
of propagation in the territory of the Chelyabinsk province of bird
influenza. The work of staff headed the first deputy governor Andrey
Kosilov.
...
Since the beginning of the year the veterinary
services of region conducted more than 5,4 thousand diagnostic
studies. Thus far bird influenza is not discovered in the territory
of region. However, specialists await appearance in the
yuzhnoural'skikh lakes of the migratory bird in two weeks.
Frightening off and shooting of birds in a radius of 50 km from the
populated areas will be organized in the territory of region. Will be
organized 100-150 brigades, which will be under the tight control of
news its shooting and utilization. Extensive explanatory work will be
carry ouied among the population of region, since in this year will
be forbidden not only the hunting the planktonic bird, but also the
free enclosure of poultry.