Birds inc magpie robin in Hong Kong w H5N1

Just seen on Reuters (! – shows that haven’t watched or listened to local news today):

Hong Kong says found more H5N1 flu in dead birds[/url] Just found govt press release; the mynah was found in Wong Tai Sin, north Kowloon (not quite in New Territories; over 10km south of where 1st infected magpie robin found, which in turn another 10km south of place on border where 2nd magpie robin and now the smuggled chicken found). http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/01/P200602010235.htm Crested mynah not much of a cage bird here; common resident. So, less likely to me that seeing infections in captive [wild] birds. Feeding at places with chickens? – can but guess. Govt to close aviaries and Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve as precaution. Later thought re Wong Tai Sin: there’s big temple there; major place during Chinese New Year celebrations. Just wondering if the mynah found at Wong Tai Sin might have been part of batch released at the temple – for good fortune – over Chinese New Year; googled, and found (example of this) re last governor Chris Patten visiting the temple some years ago: " He helped release 108 birds from nine cages as part of a ”setting free ceremony” to seek blessing for the well-being of the Hong Kong people."

Chicken smuggling by no means uncommon, inc at Shataukok:

(May 30, 2005) http://www.customs.gov.hk/eng/new_release_20050530_smuggled_pork_e.html

(February 7, 2005). http://www.customs.gov.hk/eng/new_release_20050208_smuggling_of_poultry_e.html

(4Feb05) http://www.customs.gov.hk/eng/new_release_20050204_curb_meat_smuggling_e.html

http://www.customs.gov.hk/eng/new_release_20050203_smuggled_pork_chicken_e.html

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/04/P200602040170.htm

This is on west coast of the New Territories (near Tsuen Wan), so not real close to the other recent H5N1 reports in Hong Kong.
Magpies have tested positive for H5N1 before (eg ne China), perhaps contracting after scavenging carcasses of infected birds.
Not far from Wong Tai Sin (crested mynah), but also not a species I’d expect among birds released in ceremonies.

6 Feb update: results positive for H5N1.

Post edited by: martin, at: 2006/02/06 15:15

A dead Japanese White-eye found on steps of a school in Mong Kok, Kowloon, tested positive for H5.
Another species that seems odd for infection with H5.
Very common cagebird; Mong Kok is close to major bird markets. Also common in wild – inc in trees in urban areas.

The egret has tested positive for H5N1.

Ain’t that the truth!
I now don’t venture outside without wearing a crash helmet, and a big rubber suit I had my wife make for me.

A dead common (black-billed) magpie found in Mong Kok, Kowloon on 17 February is evidently H5 positive, being tested for H5N1.

Another urban case in a wild bird (or former cage bird – though magpies are not popular cage birds that I know of).

Close to the main bird markets in Hong Kong.
Yet:

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/18/P200602180167.htm

Though – wouldn’t you know it – article includes suggestion this virus is entrenched in wild birds (in Asia), no real evidence is given. Even with Japan case that’s mentioned, smuggling/trade remains a possibility for introduction of virus. Just emailed Dr Malik Peiris, who’s quoted in article: If this H5N1 virus indeed entrenched in wild birds (Reuters, quoting you), why such an odd assortment of species in Hong Kong – all resident (well, little egret likely is), and mainly songbirds; why such tendency to be in Kowloon and on HK Island? How to infect, say, a white-eye or a magpie robin? Why the flurry of cases after around Chinese New Year, when two chickens positive? And, why all the tests of healthy wild birds coming up negative for this strain? Indeed, H5N1 in general appears very rare in healthy wild birds. Very curious, I think. (As Russia, reportedly, prepares to deter wild birds from nesting this spring – at least in Nobosibirisk, as wild birds believed by some to be major H5N1 vectors. Are conservation implications.) – further thoughts (not in the email): Really seems odd notions by Malik P. Based on v scant info, suggests this H5N1 strain is endemic in wild birds, linking Japan/HK. Yet, he’s among team who suggested wild birds have different strain at Poyang, thence to Qinghai, then on to Europe. Even though Poyang surely far more linked to Hong Kong by migration routes than ii is to Qinghai (no direct links known from Poyang to Qinghai?) Too bad that virologists saying stuff re wild birds without taking trouble to learn about them. (Ornithologists now having to try n learn some things about viruses, after all.)

now, a dead common (black-billed) magpie, Hong Kong Island:

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200602/25/P200602250210.htm
Another corvid (crow/magpie) – ie another scavenger, near the city.

Just seen that HK Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department now has pdf file for download, with H5N1 infections in birds this year. Useful; as well as species and dates, includes a map. Indeed shows broad pattern (tho v small data sample for being conclusive re pattern), with some infections New Territories, shift to Kowloon and HK Island. Also, indeed in "wlld" birds trend from songbirds (maybe inc captives?) towards corvids.

After magpie robin on 10 Jan, mainly from 26 January – just before Chinese New Year, with the Year of the Dog beginning on 29 January. No submissions since 25 Feb.

Press release from HK Govt:

Dead bird tests positive for H5N1

– as with records of dead birds with H5N1 early last year, an oddity.
Leighton Road’s a curious location for finding a “wild” bird of almost any kind – might get sparrows, but I’ve walked along quite often, and not noticed any birds there: it’s urban, and more than a stone’s throw from even Victoria Park.
Species odd too: I haven’t seen this species in urban HK, not even in parks. Mainly in rural spots, esp grassy areas such as former rice fields, wetlands near Deep Bay. Have seen on Cheung Chau, where I live; only occasional there, so some evidence of wandering.
Checking HK Birdwatchin Soc page, this is one of the two most commonly released specise at temples – released so people can supposedly get karma boost.

More info in thread on the HKBWS site – including distribution map, showing this species wasn’t mapped in urban areas including Causeway Bay, as well as article from S China Morning Post on possible link to bird releases, including:

at http://www.hkbws.org.hk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1125

Further info – after an email request for guff on the location:

A map of Causeway Bay – not too great – shows Leighton Road:
http://www.hoteltravel.com/hongkong/hong_kong/causeway_bay_map.htm

Yes, it’s near stops on the main tram route from Harcourt Garden/Central east to North Point and beyond. Also close to a major MTR station. Causeway Bay’s a bustling area, especially for shopping.
Main HK bird market isn’t here, but in Kowloon. There are, though, a few bird shops scattered around – can’t remember if in Causeway Bay area, but plausible in side streets.
There’s a Tin Hau temple a few hundred metres to the east. Can’t recall other temples, but there are plenty of temples scattered around HK.

I noticed re the h5n1 positive munia being among five dead birds (all munias?) picked up on Leighton Road. To me, indeed suggestive of being dropped from van, say.
The road is lined by commercial buildings, maybe with a few apartment blocks (pricier; not the kinds of places I’d expect to be transient points for birds).

Last year’s minor flurry of h5n1 in “wild birds” involved several rather similar cases – chiefly urban, at least one only a block or two away from main bird market, another very close to a major temple.
I then figured that any traders with birds dying of what may be H5N1 would try to dispose of them without officials knowing.

Meanwhile – touch wood – our key reserve for wild birds is yet to record a single case, despite extensive testing. (I’m of course hoping it stays this way; hope that no h5n1 somehow introduced from farms/markets – densely packed waterbird flocks could be impacted.)

Post edited by: Martin, at: 2007/01/10 16:17

from HK Govt press release, 13 Jan:

Crested Goshawk is a raptor, preying on birds – chiefly songbirds.
Shek Kip Mei is highly urban, chiefly residential area in north Kowloon, with high-rise housing estates. Near the scrubby hillsides of hills just north of Kowloon, so wild Crested Goshawk may well occur here. (Though hope it’s checked for signs it was held in captivity, and dumped – as with at least one HK peregrine with H5N1).
My view: if proves to have H5N1, likely caught through a bird it ate. Can speculate that this was a bird released from captivity. (Or, if the goshawk wsa captive, fed on diseased chicken or some other bird.)

Post edited by: Martin, at: 2007/01/14 02:36

After news re Japanese White-eye and House Crow found dead, and with H5, in Kowloon, posted this to group re H5N1 and wild birds:

Yes, fitting pattern of last year I’m afraid. Both the white-eye and the house crow in urban Kowloon; house crow now a common resident in some parts of Kowloon (yet I’ve never seen one in HK! – rarely to the estates etc of Kln).
Last night, reporter at S China Morning Post emailed me shot of dead Red-whiskered Bulbul, requesting identification.
Today, on radio, heard mention re White-rumped Munia also found in Kowloon – Boundary Street. Near Mong Kok Bird Market, which being disinfected/checked, and where, reportedly, sales have halved in last few days (oh dear, how I sob…).

Haven’t seen re whether birds being checked for possibility of captive origin.

This email has been circulated in HK by an ecology prof:

A few more dead birds with H5N1 in HK city – all Kowloon.
A blue magpie: resident species.
Two silver-eared mesias: not native to Hong Kong, though breeds in forests – population established from birds escaping/released from captivity. These local birds restricted to woods. As these two were real close to the main bird market, and distant from forest, points extremely strongly to bird market as the source.

Following Mike’s post, a dead Common Kestrel found in Kowloon confirmed to have H5N1.
Another raptor, which could feed on sick small songbirds.

Then, news of two dead munias found in Kowloon, being tested for H5N1.
One a scaly-breasted: native to HK, but old rice fields not urban.
The other a chestnut munia: not native, known to be traded.

Have recently been media reports re ideas for limiting bird trade and bird releases in Hong Kong – but no real action taken.

Here’s a letter I sent S China Morning Post; published a couple of days ago.

Dear Sir:

Suppose you were suddenly grabbed from your everyday life, shoved in a cage crammed with other humans, transported and sold in squalid conditions in which many others die and you could become diseased, and you were then moved again, and dumped in an area far from your home. And the only reason for all this was that the person releasing you could gain “karma”. Would you be grateful?

That’s akin to the situation faced by hundreds of thousands of wild birds that are traded in Hong Kong each year. Their plight has been highlighted lately as some of these birds – and local birds that have eaten them – have been found dead in the city, and tests have revealed they had H5N1.

The Buddhist practice of releasing captive birds and other animals as a way of doing good may have been worthwhile originally. But today, for the most part, it’s clearly a horrible practice – involving far more suffering and death than if these releases did not happen at all.

Despite concerns regarding H5N1, the government is loathe to legislate against the practice. Yet Buddhist associations have key roles to play as well. They can surely advise Hong Kong Buddhists that if they wish to help wild animals, there are many far better ways to do so than releasing birds – or even fish – into environments that may be totally unsuitable. If wildlife truly benefits, the Buddhists helping them really will merit karma.