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        Special Topics ¯S§O¥DÃD >> Wild Birds & Avian Flu ³¥³¾»P¸V¬y·P >>  Wong Tai Sin mynah: setting free ceremony? ¤Kô¨Ó¦Û©ñ¥Í?
        
(Message started by: martin on Feb 1^st, 2006, 11:36pm)

Title: Wong Tai Sin mynah: setting free ceremony? ¤Kô¨Ó¦Û©ñ¥Í?
Post by martin on Feb 1^st, 2006, 11:36pm

Just wondering if the mynah found at Wong Tai Sin might have been part of batch released at temple over Chinese New Year, googled, and found re Chris Patten visiting the temple:

" 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."

http://hongkong97.scmp.com/news/ArchiveArticle19970628211638411.html

I also notice a post in thread re dead birds mentions a consignment of a thousand birds, brought to HK for setting free ceremonies.
How many such consignments arrived in lead up to Chinese New Year, I wonder.

Is govt looking into this, or simply taking easy way out and blaming "wild birds" (inc waterbirds - even tho no evidence as yet of infected waterbirds in HK this winter)?

Title: Re: Wong Tai Sin mynah: setting free ceremony? ¤K
Post by martin on Feb 2^nd, 2006, 4:57pm

I sent email with release idea, inc Chris Patten, to AFCD; just received:

Quote:

Thanks for your email dated 1.2.2006

Since the release was done in 1997, we cannot ensure whether the mynah
therein is one of the birds in the batch released.
Thank you for bringing the matter to our attention.

to which I've replied:

I hadn't meant the mynah was released in 1997!
That was just to show that bird releases can take place at the temple.

I meant, instead, the mynah was maybe released there during this Chinese New Year. (At Wong Tai Sin temple or nearby).

If so, the mynah was not a wild bird, but was captive.

The magpie robins maybe also captive (for fighting?) - have they been examined for signs of this?

Captivity/trade a far more likely means of these birds becoming infected with H5N1 than any contact with wild ducks (where to find these in HK outside Deep Bay? - not easy)

For instance, in Shenzhen I've been to market where they had both poultry/farm animals, and wild animals inc birds.

Is Birdw Soc trying to dig for info, maybe check re potential the magpie robins and mynah were captive?