H5N1 in migratory birds - 2009 testing

[AlaskaDenise]

June 9, 2009 testing in Tyva, Russia found H5N1 in 4 migratory birds: black-headed gull, great crested grebe, grebe, & bean goose. Their migratory paths are below:


Map 3 - Locations abroad during the breeding season of Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) present in Britain or Ireland during the winter, showing how important Britain and Ireland are for populations breeding further north and east in mainland Europe, and in Iceland.
(source: http://www.euring.org/about_euring/newsletter3/bto.htm)

I cannot find a migration map for the 2 grebes that specifically show Russia and the grebes specified.


The bean goose sure overlaps with lots of other birds when it breeds. Note that it chooses distinct spots to winter - Germany, E. Europe, China, Japan, & Korea. That eastern blob in China may overlap Qinghai Lake, which could mean it winters with pikas. (map source: http://www.avibirds.com/platen/migratie/Rietgansk.gif)

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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: H5N1 in migratory birds - 2009 testing

Another location of the Black Headed Gull is Qinghai Lake!

They were among the thousands of Qinghai Lake birds killed by H5N1 in 2005. I'm not sure if the Black Headed Gulls at Qinghai go to Tyva. However, other birds killed at Qinghai in 2005 go to locations with 2008/2009 H5N1 and 2009 H1N1 - like the Brown Headed Gull going to Thailand, & the Bar-headed Goose goes to India.

See here for a discussion of the flight paths of birds frequenting Qinghai Lake. And of course, the Pika (known to carry H5N1) also resides there - sharing nesting areas with birds and eating the dead birds.

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[AlaskaDenise]

Re: H5N1 in migratory birds - 2009 testing

This is a good article about migratory routes in China, preserves, species, etc.:

http://www.4panda.com/special/bird/general/introduction.htm