Blue tits and great tits are the most prolific users of bird boxes in domestic gardens, although the RSPB has recorded over 60 species of birds know to have used nest boxes. Robins prefer open fronted nest boxes (hidden in vegetation, such as ivy) and it's possible to either buy or fabricate nest boxes for house sparrows, and other species including house martins, swallows, starlings, kestrels and owls. This site restricts itself to nest boxes for small garden birds.

According to the World Health Organization, the avian flu in wild and/or domestic birds has spread from Southeast Asia to South Asia and Pacific countries, to Africa and the Near East and to several countries in Europe. Forty-three countries have reported infected birds as of April 19, 2006.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. It may also affect people and other animals in certain circumstances. A Type A influenza virus causes it.

Yes. The Video Upgrade Kit is designed for those who have a competitor's box which has a video output suitable for TV. Our Kit provides a video to USB converter, for plugging into your PC, the Enjoy Birds More By PC software and access for a year to Enjoy Birds More By Web.

We use "Dawn" dish washing liquid. IBRRC has conducted research on most of the commonly available cleaning agents and "Dawn" meets all the criteria we have established for appropriate cleaning agents. Those criteria are the ability to remove most oils, effectiveness at low concentrations, non-irritating to the skin and eyes, rapid removal from feathers (rinsing), and is easily accessible.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website (http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html) provides information about how to assess whether a bird may be infected with bird flu. You can also visit the Department of Agriculture for general information on Avian Influenza (http://www.deptan.go.id/) or the Directorate General of Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture at (http://keswan.ditjennak.go.id/).

We suggest holding no longer than 36 hours without adding orange halves for water and feed. Remember that quail will starve in three days without food and depend on food for energy to fly well. You would not expect an athlete to perform to potential while starving. Also, keep the birds out of direct sunlight. If you plan extended boxing stays, please let us know so that we can prepare birds appropriately. As a general rule, if you're comfortable, the birds are comfortable.

Tube wild bird feeders are very popular with most backyard wild birds. They provide some of the most productive bird watching hours. Goldfinches will use thistle seed feeders. Most backyard songbirds will be happy to use your standard tube bird feeders that are filled with sunflowers or seed mixes. They come in a great variety of styles and prices.

Avian influenza is spread directly from bird-to-bird through secretions and feces, and indirectly through contaminated feed, water and equipment. The CFIA reminds Canadian bird owners that following strict biosecurity practices may protect their birds from AI. Biosecurity refers to measures that protect the health of livestock by preventing the transmission of disease.

There is minimal risk from consuming the infected eggs or infected meat provided it is well cooked. The danger is greater if the human beings come in contact with their droppings by inhaling them or by coming in contact with any material that is infected with the virus. At present there is no risk of transmission of the disease from another infected person since human transmission of the disease is not known to date. There is no evidence that bird flu is a food borne disease.

The symptoms in birds vary from a mild illness barely noticed (sometimes expressed as ruffled feathers or reduced egg production) to a "highly pathogenic avian influenza", which is extremely contagious and rapidly fatal for the birds.

Documentation is a difficult burden sometimes (see the two essays on documenting birds linked under Submitting Records). It involves trying to get images or recordings of the birds you see, trying to take careful, even exhaustive notes on the rarer birds you see, and submitting these to a Committee.

Locations operating with the B737 allow up to 10 boxes of birds per flight. Larger aircraft allow the shipment of more than 10 boxes.

Yes. Remember that before looking up in nest box, you should always give it a few taps in order for the female to leave the box. If the box has a panel which opens, you can directly look at its contents. If the box was not designed to be opened, you can try using a flashlight to see inside. This method can be a little bit difficult so if you cannot see the contents properly, do not send in the data. We ask you be very careful if you need to use a ladder or stepladder!

Avian influenza is quite common in birds and often occurs without symptoms or without making the birds sickly. Like other diseases, The clinical signs are very variable and are influenced by factors such as the virulence of the infecting virus, species affected, age, sex, concurrent diseases and environment. See

Sometimes it takes birds quite a while before they use a new feeder or bird bath. If after ten days, no birds are visiting, think about moving the unit to another location in your yard. I don't have any suggestions. Hopefully, this bird will quickly pass through whatever season is causing this behavior or move to another location. Even if you succeeded in chasing the bird out of a particular tree, it would probably choose another location equally close.

Our wild birds tend to stop visiting our bird feeders regularly at least twice a year. They don't actually stop using the bird feeders, they just don't linger in the yard. This happens in spring and again in the fall. Migrating hawks make an appearance at those times. Spring and summer nesting season keeps the birds very busy. Wild Birds | Hummingbirds | Hummingbird Spring Arrival Dates | Butterflies | Hummingbird Moths | Plants to attract these creatures

the Cornell Lab Nature Shop http://www.onlinenaturemall.com/birdsongs Voices of Costa Rica Birds two CDs that are suitable for Panama. Or you can download calls of South America birds from Xeno Canto http://www.xeno-canto.org, bird songs from Tropical America. My best advice to avoid insect bites is simply using mosquito repellent, DEET is your best friend. Wear long pants and long-sleeved clothing especially around dawn and dusk when the anopheles mosquitos are most active.

Birds become accustomed to a reliable food source and will visit daily. However, birds search for food in many places, so if your feeder goes empty, most birds will find food elsewhere. During periods of extreme ice, snow, or cold, the sudden disappearance of food might be a hardship. If you are leaving town during freezing weather, consider having someone fill your feeder while you’re away.

The HPAI has also caused the death of some species of wild birds, such as the Barheaded Goose Anser indicus in Qinghai Lake in the People’s Republic of China, in May – July 2005. According to Jan Veen, a biologist at Wetlands International, the wild birds that are of greatest concern with regards to bird flu belong to the Anatidae family of ducks, geese and swans. These wild birds do not generally migrate to or pass through Singapore.

Migratory water fowl- the wild ducks carry the virus but do not suffer from disease. Epidemics of bird flu occur when domesticated birds like chicken or turkey come in contact with wild ducks carrying the virus. Bird flu may start as a mild illness but after some months due to changes in the virus may become serious and kill nearly all the affected birds.

Bird flu can appear within 1-3 days after contact with the infected material. This is termed as incubation period for the disease.

Never use oils or lotions which contain oils on your bird. They gunk up the feathers, and ruin their insulating properties. This means a chilled bird. Never wait out a cat bite--those require immediate veterinary attention--a bird can die within two days because a cat's mouth is so filthy and full of bacteri Don't bother with over-the-counter medication. It really doesn't work, and in some cases, may upset the delicate bacterial balance in the bird's body, or even worsen the situation.

There is no need to change your normal practices for feeding backyard birds at this time. If the H5Nl bird flu does occur in our country, experts may have different advice, depending on what has been learned about the role of wild birds in spreading bird flu to humans.

Any rough wood, planking or exterior ply wood will be suitable. Try to use at least 15mm thick wood, to ensure better insulation. You can protect the exterior of the box with water-based wood stain, but do not use any wood stains or preservative inside the box or round the entrance hole. Fenceguard and Sadolin Classic (a wood stain, not a preservative) are recommended by the manufacturers as being suitable products for use on nest boxes.

Three reasons: First, to save space, I was not originally designing all the top panels to be the same width. (In the final design, the Primary, Secondary, Assault, and Sarge panels all ended up being 12 inches wide, but this was more a matter of appearance than any practical decision). Secondly, I couldn't see an easy way to set up removable panels without two dangling cable ends with a connector.

Birds that survive infection excrete virus for at least 10 days, orally and in feces. Highly pathogenic viruses can survive for long periods in tissue, water and the environment, especially when temperatures are low.

On April 25, 2006, the CFIA announced enhanced control measures on imports of live birds and bird products from all countries eligible to export birds to Canada to further limit opportunities for the importation AI to Canada. Additionally the CFIA, in conjunction with the Canada Border Services Agency, is spearheading a Travellers Awareness Campaign.