The State of Africas Birds

1
(No Transcript)
2
Outline of talk

• Direct impacts
• Indirect impacts
• Role of NGOs

3
H5N1 has affected at least 42 species of wild
birds so far
Common buzzard Buteo buteo
Direct Impacts
4
H5N1 outbreaks in wild birds have generally been
self-limiting and affected small numbers of
individuals
5
c. 6,000 wild birds died at Qinghai Lake, China
in April-July 2005, 90 of which were
Bar-Headed Geese
but the data are far from clear-cut!
6
At least one globally threatened species affected

• Red-breasted Goose positive for H5N1 on Skyros
  Island, Greece, in Feb 2006
• 90 of the world population of 88,000 confined to
  five roosts in Romania and Bulgaria  both
  affected countries

Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
7
Strain of H5N1 now endemic in Tree Sparrows
Four H5N1 viruses isolated from free-living Tree
Sparrows collected in China in 2004. Genetically
similar to each other, distinct from other
strains.
Tree sparrow Passer montanus
8
H5N1 in perspective
Skulls and feathers form the beach at North
Shore, Salton Sea
9
but potential threat to colonial species that
aggregate at just a few sites in large numbers
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
10
Indirect impactspotentially much more severe
11
Negative public perceptions

12

• Confusion between H5N1 and human pandemic
• Distorted assessment of risk
• Fear and panic induced by media

13
(No Transcript)
14
Authorities add to hysteria

• Representative plenipotentiary of the President
  of Russian Federation in Siberian Federal
  District, A. Kvashnin, proclaimed that nesting of
  wild birds must not be permitted on wetlands near
  human settlements by all means possible
  Federal Chief Inspector A. Zavyalov officially
  reported that similar plans would be carried out
  in Altay region, and that not a single duck must
  be allowed to land here.
• Russia's chief doctor called for mass
  elimination of crows in Russian cities, warning
  yesterday that these birds are potential carriers
  of bird flu. Crows are feathered wolves who
  feed on carrion, including birds that have died
  of flu. They should be exterminated mercilessly,
  Mr Onishchenko said.
• Vietnam's commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City has
  begun poisoning pigeons and other wild birds as
  it moves to prevent avian flu from spreading, an
  official said on Friday. We will make sure that
  no birds are left in the city Huynh Huu Loi,
  Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Animal Health
  Department, told Reuters.

15
Calls for culling wild birds are ill-advised

• Culls known to be ineffective, probably
  counterproductive
• Against advice of FAO, OIE and WHO
• Indiscriminate culls could severely affect
  threatened birds

Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
16
Calls for habitat destruction

• Also ineffective and counterproductive
• Potential for grave economic and ecological damage

17
Individual actions

• Persecution of wild birds
• Nest destruction
• Access to nest sites closed off
• Dumping of exotic birds
• Dumping of cats and other pets
• Less feeding of wild birds
• Fewer visits to nature reserves

18
A few examples

• Germany First White Stork nest removed public
  ask for permits to remove House Martin nests
• Greece Hunters help in surveillance efforts, end
  up hunting birds in protected area
• Indonesia Wild doves shot in village because of
  bird flu fears
• Poland Attempts to kill swans for H5N1 testing
• Romania Torture and killing of wild birds
  stranded by freezing weather 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
• UK Headmaster applies for permit to shoot gulls
  around school

19
Other side effects hunting

• Hunting banned in some countries (e.g. Belgium,
  Kenya, Lebanon, Russia, Slovakia)
• Promoted in others (e.g. Greece)
• Concerns over H5N1 surveillance as excuse for
  increased hunting intensity

20
Other side effects Wild Bird Trade

• EU ban continues pressure to make permanent
• Conservation implications uncertain

Bird market, Kowloon, China
21
Role of NGOs
BirdLife International Partnership
22
Surveillance

• Both sampling live birds and reporting dead ones
• Many NGOs already monitoring birds
• Extensive networks of volunteers
• IBA Site Caretakers and Site Support Groups
• International Waterbird Census good base for
  wetland monitoring
• Need training, guidance for sampling, linkages to
  authorities and (modest) resources!

23
Example Surveillance in the UK

• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB),
  British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Wildfowl
  Wetlands Trust (WWT) working with Department
  for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• RSPB monitoring sites once or twice per week
• RSPB Staff time cost more than 100,000
• No support from Government

RSPB Lakenheath Fen reserve
24
Providing data and expertise

• Extensive information on sites, species and
  migratory routes
• Access to local, national, regional and global
  expertise

25
Dealing with public misperceptions

• NGOs often trusted more than Governments
• Can provide balanced advice and guidance to
  members and the general public
• Help to reduce hysteria, focus on real risks and
  most effective countermeasures

26
Better collaboration is key

• Veterinarians, virologists, agriculturalists,
  medics and conservationists must work together
• Ecological information and input still often
  lacking
• Conservation NGOs still poorly integrated into
  the fight against H5N1 role needs to be
  recognised and supported

East African geese
27
hope that real improvements in collaboration
will be one outcome of this meeting
East African diving ducks