NEWBURY — Avian bird flu has been discovered in the area, but it's harmless enough that scientists sent it flying south.
The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is taking part in the Atlantic Flyway Avian Influenza monitoring strategy.
Of the birds that have been tested, two American black ducks from the Parker River Refuge have tested positive for bird flu, according to Sarah Janson, biological science technician at the refuge.
"It had bird flu, but not the strain they were concerned with," said Frank Drauszewski, deputy refuge manager. "There's a variety of strains, but this wasn't the big one."
Janson explains that there are two main strains, high pathenogenic avian influenza, often called the "Asian" bird flu, and the fairly common low pathenogenic avian influenza, often called the "North American" bird flu.
According to the USDA, the "Asian" bird flu is the type causing worldwide concern, as it spreads rapidly and is often fatal to birds. "North American" bird flu is not closely related to the "Asian" flu, is rarely fatal in birds and poses no threat to human health.
"We've been taking precautions," Drauszewski said. "We wear gloves and protective equipment. Also, the bird flu isn't easily transferable."
The ducks were caught using a swim-in trap, where the fowl are banded, swabbed, and after the data is collected and recorded, the unharmed ducks are set free. The samples are sent to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center for testing.
Highly virulent avian influenza strains have not yet been detected in North America but concerns exist that they could be transmitted by birds coming from nesting grounds in the Arctic and Asia.
"Birds are migratory; different species sometimes will nest in the same nesting area," said Drauszewski.
Of interest are all waterfowl species except mallards and Canada geese, which are considered "residential" birds common to the area.
"We're in the middle of the fall waterfowl migration season," said Janson. "Birds are coming down the Atlantic Flyway from Canada."
Local waterfowl hunters are asked to bring their recently harvested, whole birds to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the remainder of the waterfowl season. A simple swab sample will be taken from each bird to test for the presence of avian influenza virus.
The live trapping has yielded 38 samples over one and a half months. Janson hopes samples from hunters throughout the waterfowl season will double that number for the study being conducted with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hunters in the Atlantic Flyway (U.S. and Canada combined) currently harvest about 2.4 million ducks, 700,000 geese, and 2,400 tundra swans. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife states duck season is from Oct. 17 to 25, and again from Nov. 26 to Jan. 24. Dates of other categories of waterfowl are listed on its Web site, mass.gov/masswildlife.
For more information, please contact the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at 6 Plum Island Turnpike, 978-465-5753.
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