The best way is to purchase a bird identification book. The National Audubon Society has a Field Guide to North American Birds for the Western and Eastern regions. These books include color photographs and descriptions of the birds you may find in your backyard. One particularly good source for bird books is the Los Angeles Audubon Society Bookstore (323) 876-0202 Audubon California is a conservation organization, and is not equipped to take injured animals or to give advice on their care

West Nile Virus (WNV) was first identified in Dane County in 2001, in a dead crow. Multiple WNV positive birds have been found in Dane County every year since then. For this reason, the emergence of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) in Wisconsin, and specifically in Dane County, has created the need for a public health response. The following is information about WNV, the illness that may result, and Madison's public health response.

Hang feeders at least five feet above the ground. For ground-feeding birds, arrange ornamental border fencing in two or three concentric circles about 16 inches to two feet apart, to disrupt a cat's ability to leap at feeders or to spring on birds. Harass offending cats with a spray of water to train them to avoid your yard. If all else fails, use a live trap to catch the cats and take them to the local animal shelter.

Naturally occurring avian influenza viruses in wild birds are generally associated with waterfowl (ducks and geese), gulls, and some species of shore birds and typically do not cause illness in these birds. The viruses can occasionally be transmitted from these wild birds to domestic birds such as chickens, quail and turkeys. In some cases these viruses can cause severe disease in domestic birds.

Bird populations may fluctuate quite dramatically over short periods of time in local areas. This may be due to normal annual life cycle changes (breeding, post-breeding dispersal), migration, short-distance movements as birds seek out more available food sources, or a variety of other reasons. West Nile Virus (and other diseases) may be a factor in causing unusual mortality in large or local areas.

According to experts, diseased birds look apathetic and suffer from breathing difficulties. They sway a lot and their feathers are ruffled. Classical fowl plague cannot be identified by the symptoms alone. It is very similar to, for example, atypical fowl plague, also known as Newcastle disease. The results of poisoning are often also very similar.

On all our trips we have a guide on board (in addition to the skipper) who will help you identify the birds we see. At the start of each trip we do a run through of the birds we are most likely to see, identifying features and any special target species. We want to ensure you get the most out of your trip.

Most avian influenza viruses have been isolated from wild waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) and shorebirds (wading birds), gulls, and terns. With rare exceptions, the thousands of flu isolates found in wild birds have been low pathogenic avian influenza and have rarely caused signs of illness. The occurrence of avian influenza in wild ducks in North America reaches its height in late summer and early fall. At other times of the year, infection rates are usually less than 1 percent.

We recommend that you contact your local county cooperative extension service. They have master gardeners that will be able to help you identify the plant.

It's hard to describe an animal accurately enough for a positive ID in text. Try a field guide first, since you can look back and forth from the book to the animal. (Several guides are available; in the United States the Audubon guide and the Peterson guides are recommended. In Europe, refer to the "Collins Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe by E.N. Arnold, J.A. Burton and D.W. Ovenden" as a starting reference.

Generally no. The boxes I use are designed for specific types of birds and I cannot mix quail with finches or doves. I can ship Zebras and Societies in the same box, but I will not mix very different types in one box. However I can strapped multiple boxes together and it does not greatly affect shipping cost. For express mail it will increase the cost since the cost are based on weight, but not a great amount of $.

Before planting things to attract birds, think about which species you most want to have in your yard and how much space you have to put in trees, shrubs and flowers. birdfeeding.org advises creating a plan on paper before putting the first shovel to the ground. Take your plan to a local garden center to discuss options with a professional. The birds will love the fruit from an eastern redbud, but you may not have room for a 50-foot tall tree.

These houses are designed to attract a variety of small songbirds found in many regions. These include wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, bluebirds, finches and swallows. In addition, we build larger, custom houses for flickers, woodpeckers, kestrels and small owls. -Back to top-

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.

Rather than feeding birds, try planting shrubs and trees that are native to your area. Check the phone book for nurseries that carry "native plants", or visit your local botanical garden during a plant sale.

You can stop by a local bird store and ask the staff for ideas and suggestions. Read all about how you can landscape for wildlife by using native plants at <http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wildscapes/>.

Our Raccoon & Squirrel Repellent will not harm wild nirds. The main ingredient is capsaicin pepper which is annoying to squirrels and raccoons. Birds cannot smell therefore they will not be harmed.

The Field Guide to New Zealand Seabirds by Brian Parkinson, published by New Holland Publishers. This guide provides ready identification and up-to-date information of many species that are likely to be encountered in New Zealand waters. We have for sale copies of this comprehensive and easy-to-use New Zealand guide and other bird books such as The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand by Hugh Robertson & Barrie Heather, published by Penguin Books NZ. Please contact us.

There are six different kinds of light when observing a simple object in direct sunlight. These are known as the highlight, light, half light, shade, shadow and reflected light. They may be identified in the following manner: Highlight: Touched directly by the source of light this is the lightest area. So light in fact, that regardless of the objects color this area may reflect pure white. Shadow: When the object's form blocks the light on another surface a shadow is created.

WNV has been identified in more than 103 species of birds, including captive, exotic, and those native to the US

Nyjer® seed is a favorite of goldfinches and popular also with house and purple finches and pine siskins.

Actually, it is MassWildlife's policy not to feed any wildlife, but there are no state laws prohibiting feeding. Unlike the birds in your back yard that come to your feeder, eat, and leave, most waterfowl tend to hang around the sites where they are fed. Often, these sites are in municipal areas that are not suitable for most of the other requirements of waterfowl.

The birds are appropriately called chimney swifts, named for their preferred nesting location, inside chimneys. During fall migration small flocks of swifts gather into large communal roosts numbering hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Your chimney appears to be a migrating roost for chimney swifts. For more information, I suggest you check your local library for a good bird book, such as Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman.

In most cases it is very difficult to identify an insect over the phone. If you need it identified catch it in a container with a tight fitting lid. Then, please call ODA (1-800-525-0137) to obtain details on preserving and sending the insect(s) for identification. After you call and receive mailing instructions, you may send samples to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Plant Division, IPPM, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem OR 97301. An ODA entomologist will examine it and contact you.

The symptoms vary widely, from none or mild illness to highly contagious and rapidly fatal epidemics. The contagious form has sudden onset, severe illness, and carries a death rate of nearly 100 percent. The virus can alter from being low-risk to high-risk very quickly through genetic mutation.

In the latest outbreak, which started in late 2003, more than 150 million birds have been killed or culled in Southeast Asia alone. The total number affected is expected to be much higher.