It's not hard to figure out why bluebirds were so popular in the 1800s,
and probably well before that, given their striking blue and orange plumage
and willingness to nest close to homes and in the fence-posts that once
separated farms and agricultural fields.
Countless Pennsylvanians already are involved in bluebird conservation ,
because they enjoy seeing bluebirds, or simply would like to lend a helping
hand to a songbird that could use all the help it can get. Eleven thousand of the live bird
samples will be initially screened by USGS at its Nat'l Wildlife Health Center
in Madison, WI.

* Another source for information on pandemic influenza is the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) Hotline at: 1--800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636).

Additional Information
For more information about avian influenza:

* http://www.

undisclosed attract

.nabluebirdsociety.us) by clicking on "Release
#24-06. There have been no occurrences of highly pathogenic avian
influenza in wild birds in the United States and no significant human illness
resulted from any of these outbreaks. to
contain and eradicate the disease.S.
Since 1998, USDA and the University of Alaska have tested more than 12,000
wild migratory birds in AK and since 2000 USDA and the University of Georgia
have tested more than 4,000 wild birds in the Atlantic flyway.S.S. Distributed through CDC's Health Alert Network, these alerts
reminded public health departments about recommendations for detecting ,
diagnosing, and preventing the spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.

* Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and
after handling food;

* Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, fish, and
their juices away from other foods;

* After cutting raw meats, wash cutting board, knife, and counter tops
with hot , soapy water;

* Sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine
bleach in 1 quart of water; and

* Use a food thermometer to ensure food has reached the safe internal
temperature -- in all parts of the bird.

Planning for Pandemic Influenza
Should highly pathogenic H5N1 arrive in the U., it does not signal an
influenza pandemic.

bluebirds backyard

Combined, that translated into lots of open space
- preferred habitat, few environmental issues and limited competition with
other cavity nesters. DDT and other harmful pesticides hampered reproduction until they
were banned nationally in '70s."
The Game Commission regularly campaigned for bluebirds by encouraging
Pennsylvanians to consider getting involved in the fight to make the state a
friendlier place for them. Otherwise, recognize its worth to
other wildlife and place it where it'll do some good. "Probably nothing reinforces the need for bluebird nest
boxes more than seeing bluebirds scrapping with house sparrows over a box.

NOTE: Photos to accompany the following article are available from the
Game Commission's website (http://www. It is likely the highly
pathogenic H5N1 strain will spread to this country, and the U.

* The 1924 H7 outbreak was contained and eradicated in East Coast live
bird markets. All birds
tested negative for highly pathogenic H5N1. Cook poultry to at least 1650 F
to kill foodborne germs that might be present, including the avian
influenza virus.

feeders attracting

. "But we should not consider the
bluebird's comeback a done deal, because their existence seems destined to
hinge on the continued involvement of people who care about the species. Add to that the diminishing
number of fence-posts found in rural America - caused by field consolidation,
farm loss, and use of prefabricated plastic and metal posts - and the
dwindling number of snags and mature trees with cavities in Penn's Woods, and
it hits you like a runaway train why bluebirds are so dependent upon people
and why their future will always be hazy. They also are responsible for putting nest boxes in
locations that simply won't do much for bluebirds. "More often than not the reason is the box was placed in an
undesirable location. Preferred locations are open backyards,
meadows, near fencerows or agricultural fields, and around cemeteries or
athletic fields . The earlier a nest
box is placed afield or in a yard, the better its chances are of attracting
bluebirds.pgc.org), have
done much to promote bluebirds and the species' never-ending need for nest
boxes. Government is
taking steps to prepare for and minimize the potential impact of bird flu. All imported live birds must be quarantined for 30 days at a USDA
quarantine facility and tested for the avian influenza virus before entering
the country.S. must meet all safety standards applied to foods
produced in the U.

To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection:

* Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and
model the correct behavior.nwhc.

gardensafari backyard

full of innocent vivacity," and surely
countless Americans had similar feelings toward it. In addition to house sparrows and
starlings, native species such as the tree swallow, house wren, great-crested
flycatcher, black-capped chickadee, and tufted titmouse also use cavities. People often mistakenly place nest boxes in places
where they'd like to see them, rather than locations that satisfy bluebirds.us - offers
additional information on bluebirds, as well as nest box plans .org), as well as
the North American Bluebird Society (http://www. Customs and Border Protection at major U. Frequent testing
occurs in live bird markets and commercial flocks. Additionally, birds are
tested that show signs of illness. The
alerts also recommended measures for laboratory testing for suspected highly
pathogenic H5N1 virus.

* Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared
for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your
home.

* Reliable, accurate, and timely information is available at
http://www.gov/plan/tab2.

gardensafari attract

But then the bluebird has always had someone to
champion its well -being in the Commonwealth, even before the creation of the
Game Commission in 1895.state.
USDA and Interior's agencies, including the U.

Bird Import Restrictions
As a primary safeguard, USDA maintains trade restrictions on the
importation of poultry and poultry products from countries where the H5N1 HPAI
strain has been detected in commercial or traditionally raised poultry , not in
wild or migratory birds.-origin pet birds.S. If a pandemic occurs, having accurate and
reliable information will be critical. TTY: 1-888-232-6348.

bluebirds birdsource

"A box is best placed on a post - not a tree trunk - four to six feet off
the ground in direct sunlight."
Of course, it should be pointed out that a bluebird nest box used by any
species other than a house sparrow - starlings can't access the entrance of a
properly-constructed bluebird nest box - is still a box that's serving
wildlife and helping to fill a habitat deficiency.
The best time to erect a bluebird box is right now .S.
Since February 2004, HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has provided U.

Food Safety
Eating properly handled and cooked poultry is safe. During a pandemic , if you cannot get
to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for
you to have extra supplies on hand.

* Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand,
including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines,
fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins. Identify sources you can count
on for reliable information .

feeders swallows

The
European transplants began to dominate the nesting cavities bluebirds
preferred.S.S. Department of Homeland
Security's U.

bluebirds leisa

Further complicating the
bluebird's plight, particularly in Pennsylvania , has been the loss of open
spaces to development or reforestation.
It's also not uncommon to find flying squirrels, white-footed mice, deer mice,
even yellow jackets and bumblebees using nest boxes . If you're reusing a box, remove old nesting
materials from inside before hanging it. Males - the more vibrantly colored ones - start shopping for nest
boxes in early to mid March.

* The 1983-84 H5N2 outbreak resulted in the destruction of approximately
17 million chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl in the northeastern U. Fish and Wildlife Service, have been working for the past several months
with State of Alaska biologists to strategically sample live birds, hunter
taken birds , sentinel flocks, and the environment used by these targeted
populations for highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in the Pacific Flyway.
Broad concerns about public health relate to the potential for the virus
to mutate, or change into a form that could spread from person to person.html

Also See: http://www.

A collection of links containing material dealing with the concept of backyard birding, including bird houses, feeders, and baths.

feeders identifing

, The following article was written
by Joe Kosack, Wildlife Conservation Education Specialist, Pennsylvania Game
Commission:

Eastern bluebirds have long been the displaced darlings of Pennsylvania's
spring, as well as the poster bird for what can go wrong when people introduce
non-native species to a new area. By the 1930s, a
national movement had started to remedy the bluebird's "homeless" status.
Given the aforementioned list of possible tenants, it's not hard to
understand why nest boxes are in such demand. Casual
conservationists probably account for the biggest share of this ongoing
outreach effort. The
Interagency Strategic Plan for monitoring of wild birds, which expands and
intensifies their program in 2006, focuses on this Alaska area because it is a
flyway crossroads for migratory birds that annually return from their winter
migration in Asia, and come in contact with other North American migratory
birds that return to Alaska in the spring from wintering areas in the southern
United States and Central America.
Biosecurity refers to the application of practical, common sense management
practices to keep AI and other poultry diseases out of our commercial and
backyard flocks.
In the event of a highly pathogenic avian flu outbreak in the United
States, USDA maintains a bank of bird vaccines to protect healthy birds
outside a quarantine area, if necessary. The Center
recommends that people handling wild birds:

* Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead. The
U.S.

kaytee gardensafari

That annual influx of new nest
boxes helps to ensure Pennsylvania remains a "keystone state " in bluebird
conservation.
It's a sight that inspires people to get a nest box and help make a difference
locally.pa.pgc.

United States Prepares for Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wild Birds

There are a number of ways that highly pathogenic H5N1 could potentially
reach the United States -- wild bird migration, illegal smuggling of birds or
poultry products, travel by infected people or people traveling with virus-
contaminated articles from regions where H5N1 already exists .S. Stay home from work and school if sick.usda.usgs.gov

identifing wildbirds

Bluebird paradise.
Bluebirds needed help competing with the more aggressive European species,
and American ornithologists soon recognized this problem. If helping bluebirds is
your objective, then place or relocate your nest box to an area where there
will be limited nesting competition and predator problems, and where bluebirds
are more apt to find it. Currently, H5N1
avian influenza is not present in the United States.

More than 450 million people visit Interior lands annually.
Monitoring is conducted in four key areas: live bird markets, commercial
flocks, backyard flocks and migratory bird populations. public health departments with a series of alerts providing
recommendations for enhanced monitoring for highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza
in the U. If highly pathogenic
H5N1 were detected in the U.

* Teach your children to stay away from others as much as possible if they
are sick. This line is available in English and Spanish, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.html.

backyard attracting

The bluebird 's
perfect world was slipping away, and it was helpless to reverse the troubling
tailspin it found itself in. If
people stop putting out nest boxes for bluebirds, there undoubtedly will be
serious repercussions."
The Game Commission's website - http://www.
The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania (http://www. WASHINGTON, Avian Influenza (AI) -- the bird flu
-- is a disease caused by a virus that infects domestic poultry and wild birds
(geese and ducks and shorebirds).S. In addition, USDA
researchers are developing faster diagnostic tests, enhanced vaccines for
birds and new information about how avian influenza spreads so that the United
States is better prepared for avian influenza outbreaks.

* Cook all game meat thoroughly (at least to 1650 F) to kill disease
organisms and parasites. Ongoing preparations include the following:

* Working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and with other nations
to help detect human cases of bird flu and contain a flu pandemic, if
one begins

* Supporting the manufacturing and testing of influenza vaccines,
including finding more reliable and quicker ways to make large
quantities of vaccines

* Developing a national stockpile of antiviral drugs to help treat and
control the spread of disease

* Supporting the efforts of federal, state, tribal , and local health
agencies to prepare for and respond to pandemic influenza

* Working with federal agencies to prepare and to encourage communities,
businesses, and organizations to plan for pandemic influenza

Each individual and family should know both the magnitude of what can
happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions can be taken to help lessen
the impact of an influenza pandemic on themselves and their community.
To plan for a pandemic:

* Store a supply of water and food.

feeder birders

"Bluebirds were in deep trouble in the mid 1900s, just before America's
environmental awaking in the '60s," explained Dan Brauning, Pennsylvania Game
Commission Wildlife Diversity Section chief.
"That bluebirds currently nest in all of Pennsylvania 's 67 counties is
directly related to the interest Pennsylvanians have shown toward bluebird
conservation and doing something more for wildlife in their yards over the
past 50 years," explained Brauning . As part of this enhanced
monitoring, in 2006 USDA, DOI and its cooperators plan to test between 75,000
to 100,000 samples from live and dead birds. Home quarantine and testing for AI also is required for returning
U.

Monitoring Human Health
At present, highly pathogenic avian influenza , such as the highly
pathogenic H5N1 strain, is a disease of birds and is not readily transmitted
to humans. In rare cases, it can be spread from birds to people primarily as a
result of extensive direct contact with raw infected poultry or poultry
droppings.

* Listen to local and national radio, watch news reports on television,
and read your newspaper and other sources of printed and Web-based
information.

undisclosed feathered

Audubon referred to the
bluebird as a "lovely bird .
The Game Commission's Howard Nursery, near Milesburg, has been
manufacturing bluebird nest boxes and box kits for more than a quarter
century."

S.
The U. air and seaports
to inspect, examine and regulate the importation of live poultry, commercial
birds, pet birds and/or "hatching eggs. The U. There have been no documented cases of human highly pathogenic H5N1
disease resulting from contact with wild birds.

bluebirds feeder

Pennsylvania's bluebird population was probably its strongest ever in the
late 1800s and early 1900s, before starlings and house sparrows became too
plentiful , and before the advent of DDT. Pennsylvania's human population
was half what it is today. And Pennsylvania 's open spaces slowly, but
steadily, were reclaimed by trees, or worse, buildings. Additionally, USDA has increased its monitoring of
domestic commercial markets for illegally smuggled poultry and poultry
products.

* Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and be
sure to model that behavior.pandemicflu.gov/avian_influenza.

nestbox identifing

Bluebirds suffered considerable - almost unrecoverable - losses in the
twentieth century as a result of the injudicious introductions of house
(English) sparrows and European starlings to New York City - and ultimately
America - in the 1800s, and the toxic toll DDT exacted on many songbirds and
raptors for decades beginning in the 1940s. It was the period just after large
sections of the Commonwealth's forests had been logged off and a time when
farms covered about two-thirds of the state. Each year, about 9,000 kits are manufactured there and sold or
provided to Pennsylvanians to help bluebirds. In late April - and often again in mid June - the female lays eggs. Department of Agriculture
have proactive interagency efforts underway to monitor wild migratory birds in
the United States and to test statistically significant samples of populations
of various migratory bird species for avian influenza. This enhanced monitoring program
will provide an early warning to the agriculture, public health and wildlife
communities should migratory birds be found to carry the highly pathogenic
H5N1 virus. Currently, USDA has 40 million
available bird vaccine doses, which have been proven effective against the
highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. Fish and Wildlife Service works with USDA to
communicate these trade restrictions to the pet bird trade community and
incorporates them into decisions on permits it issues for wild bird trade.

* Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or cleaning birds.

swallows nestboxes

With time, though, America's bluebirds began to lose their grip. Their websites offer a variety of features that will familiarize
interested landowners with ways to make their properties more attractive to
bluebirds .

Monitoring Bird Health in the U.S. This can be useful in other types of
emergencies , such as power outages and disasters.

* Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency
response.

birder feathered

But they get plenty of competition for
nesting sites from other wildlife. Most have bluebird
nest boxes in their yard; others maintain bluebird nest box trails . Because of the quick response, which included quarantine and
culling of birds, the disease was limited to one flock." Interior land management agencies,
including the National Park Service , FWS, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of
Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation, are educating their employees and
working with stakeholder and support groups, and preparing protocols to
protect visitors and employees on public lands. To help backyard and smaller poultry
producers, the USDA "Biosecurity for the Birds" program provides important
information about reducing the chances of birds becoming infected with AI.S. Nonetheless, the HHS has been preparing for pandemic
influenza for several years.

leisa identifing

Please encourage your neighbors to do the same.pa. Each year, there is a bird flu season just
as there is for humans and, as with people, some forms of the flu are worse
than others. Geological Survey and the
U. Suspected
findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza will be further tested and
diagnosed by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory lab in Ames,
Iowa.
USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Interior's Fish
and Wildlife Service also works with the U.S.S.gov.pandemicflu.

birdsource undisclosed

But
whatever gains were made for bluebirds likely were offset by the increased
usage of DDT - and a general disregard for many environmental concerns -
during the war years of the '40s.
"Although Pennsylvania's bluebird population appears to be stronger today
than any time over the past 50 years, the species surely needs to remain in
the public's eye to ensure its well-being and that it continues to prosper,"
emphasized Gross. So please do put out nest boxes, and put them where they can help.) Interior
also has developed a departmental pandemic influenza plan to assure continuity
of operations. Department of Health and Human Services is aggressively working with a
team of federal, state and industry partners to ensure public health is
protected., the chance of infected poultry entering the
human food chain would be extremely low.S.

* Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for an influenza
pandemic.gov.

attracting nestboxes

The $2 fine for
breaking the law was equivalent to about a $50 fine today.

* In 2004, USDA confirmed an H5N2 outbreak in chickens in the southern
United States.
In addition, USDA monitors U.

Guidance for handling wildlife
The Department of Interior's National Wildlife Health Center has issued
guidance to follow routine precautions when handling wild birds. Links
are available to each state department of public health at
http://www.

* Talk to your local health care providers and public health officials.gov /birdflu

* http://www.AvianFlu.

nestboxes joannes

HARRISBURG, Pa. John J. The agency
also will be selling bluebird nest boxes and nest box kits to the public in
May in the Harrisburg headquarters.thebsp .
Historically, highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza have been
detected in domestic poultry populations three times in the United States: in
1924, 1983 and 2004.
Testing also is being carried out in other migratory bird flyways in
cooperation with state and local agencies . The remaining samples will be initially tested at labs
certified by USDA in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.S.
USDA works closely with its federal, state and tribal partners, as well as
industry stakeholders to ensure that effective and coordinated emergency
response plans are ready should an outbreak HPAI occur.

* Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game,
wash hands with soap and water (or with alcohol-based hand products if
the hands are not visibly soiled), and thoroughly clean knives,
equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game. Poultry
products imported to the U.

Knowing the facts is the best preparation.

woodpeckers henfield

"
Bluebirds have the unique distinction of being the only member of the
thrush family to nest in a cavity.
"People frequently ask the Game Commission why bluebirds won't use a nest
box they've placed in their yard," said Doug Gross, Game Commission
ornithologist . Boxes placed too close to houses and other buildings,
waterways and wetlands, or forested and brushy areas will attract nesting
competitors and predators. After attracting a female, they build a nest in
the box.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has been found in an
increasing number of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Department of the Interior and U.S. (Many of these lands provide
nesting, migration and wintering habitat for waterfowl and other migratory
birds. domestic and wild bird populations. The vaccine would be used to create a
firewall around a quarantine to prevent spread. Even if it did, proper cooking kills
this virus just as it does many other disease organisms and parasites.S. Questions can be e-
mailed to cdcinfo@cdc.

leisa attract

Pennsylvania Game Commission: Bluebird Blues

"Just about everything seemed to
be working against this handsome, and extremely popular songbird. But the
situation started to improve for bluebirds in the 1960s and '70s as more and
more Americans rallied to help by placing nest boxes in their backyards and
creating bluebird nest box trails. In the state's second oldest songbird protection
law, dated 1843, bluebirds were one of several species listed specifically for
complete protection in Allegheny and Franklin counties .state. The disease was quickly eradicated thanks to close
coordination and cooperation between USDA, state, local and industry
leaders. Another 70 million doses are in development.

* Look for information on your local and state government Web sites.