You Need to Know: Avian Influenza

As New Zealand responds to avian influenza, ornithologist Dr Lee Shapiro says field ecologists will be adding an extra lens to their usual observation of bird behaviour, particularly as migratory shorebirds begin arriving from overseas. 

The recent case of avian influenza in New Zealand is not unexpected, but it does add another layer of vigilance for Boffa Miskell's ecologists and biosecurity consultants working in the field.

While Boffa Miskell is not directly involved in the Government's response to bird flu, our practitioners are often on the frontline when it comes to observing bird health, simply because they spend so much time in places where birds live, feed and roost.

"We’re in the field looking for birds almost every day, so potentially among the first to see things behaviourally, and we know what might be normal and what might be abnormal," says Dr Lee Shapiro. "That observational role will become particularly important as New Zealand moves towards spring."

Boffa Miskell’s biosecurity and ecology teams are continuing their scheduled survey work, with the usual best-practice standards of hygiene; but with heightened awareness of bird behaviour and clear reporting pathways if anything unusual is observed.

"It's an evolving situation," Lee says. “For now, the fieldwork we undertake will carry on. We’ll be staying on top of any new developments and guidance, adjusting as we need to, and keeping our clients informed along the way."