A surveillance program is being set up across parts of Canada and much of the U-S to watch migrating birds.
Agriculture officials blame those birds for this year's outbreak of highly-pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry operations in those regions.
Now they want to be on the lookout as those birds migrate south to see if they can determine whether the virus is still be carried by them.
The USDA's Doctor David Swayne says the hope is that the virus will have burned itself out in the wildlife population.
However, if it hasn't, Doctor Swayne says the surveillance system will give them an early-warning system so producers in areas where the virus shows up can boost their biosecurity levels.
===
Doctor David Swayne says steps are being taken to keep an eye on those birds as they migrate south later this year.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/SWAYNE-AI-2.mp3"][/audio]
===
Doctor Swayne says they hope the program will serve as an early-warning system for poultry producers trying to protect their birds from Avian Influenza.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/SWAYNE-AI-3.mp3"][/audio]
