A Numbers Game

Yesterday, my colleague Nichola Hill who's with the USGS was bombarded with about 25 members of the Forestry Department and a Bangladesh bird club.  Everyone was hovering around her snapping photos and asking lots of questions.  I got my share of attention at the swabbing station but the satellite transmitters themselves mystified many of the onlookers. 

Today, we only managed to trap and sample a Spotted Redshank and a Little Grebe.  With our limited time in the field we are striving to sample a large number of waterfowl.  Just a day ago it seemed more like a circus as we processed lots of birds with the newly formed team and we were up to our elbows with wildlife. The pace today was much more relaxed and everyone was able to take their time and explain everything they were doing to visiting students.  Here I am pictured with a Cotton Pygmy Goose.

Reporting from Bangladesh, EcoHealth Alliance scientist Kurt Vandegrift is working toward monitoring highly pathogenic Avian influenza in wild migratory waterfowl.