5.16.2007 12:00 AM

4 Things You Can Do To Help The Birds

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By Dan Shapley

Marm Kilpatrick, the lead author of a new scientific study that shows how West Nile virus has decimated several common backyard bird species, suggests these three things that people can do to help:

1.Reduce mosquito habitat around the house by eliminating standing water in such places as unused flower pots, old tires, kid pools and other containers that can collect standing water.
2.Set aside habitat for birds. Because disease is one of a range of threats to bird health, reducing the impact of habitat loss is one way communities can help.
3.Support federal policies that inhibit the transmission of diseases from continent to continent. Some examples include building airplane cargo holds with insecticide-treated metal, and expanding inspection programs to curtail the illegal trade of wild animals.
4. In addition, we''d add that you can participate in citizen science programs, which give scientists the data they need to track bird health. Citizen science is easy, it can make for a great family activity, and it''s often as easy as counting athe birds one sees during the course of a day''s time.