Daily Archives: 03/08/2011

Avian pox virus is on the rampage in the UK. A new strain of a bug that affects a number of small birds mildly is now causing severe problems for great tits, which are one of my favourite birds even though prone to be the punchline of dubious jokes. Conservationists, the article says, are urging the public to track the disease. Becki Lawson, of the Zoological Society of London, said:   “We can’t give medicine to free-ranging birds. We’d always recommend that people give particular attention to good hygiene at feeding stations to prevent the cycle of transmission of any particular disease agent that could occur there.” People in Britain love … Continue reading →