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FAO WWT WI Waterbird Capture and Avian Influenza Surveillance Training Course

held at Dagona, Chad Basin National Park, Yobe State, Nigeria

26th October - 13th November 2009

Report to

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Report from

Ruth Cromie1, Richard Hearn1, David Paynter1 & Nicolas Tubbs2

1Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK 2Wetlands International, PO Box 471, 6700 AL Wageningen, The Netherlands

December 2009

Contents SUMMARY 2

1 BACKGROUND 3

2 THE COURSE 5

2.1 Aim of the course 5

2.2 Location 5

2.3 Timing 5

2.4 Participants 5

2.4.1 Participant Specification 6

2.4.2 Selection Process 6

2.5 Trainers 8

2.6 Facilities 8

2.7 Accommodation 8

2.8 Food 8

2.9 Daily subsistence allowance (DSA) 8

2.10 Travel and transport 8

2.11 Language 9

2.12 Course structure 9

2.13 Course content 9

2.14 Trapping and avian influenza surveillance equipment 10

2.15 Capture techniques demonstrated and practiced in the field 10

2.16 Avian influenza sampling 12

2.17 Numbers and species of birds captured and sampled caught during the course 13

2.18 Health and safety 13

2.19 Animal welfare 13

2.20 Teaching resources 13

2.21 Certificate of attendance 14

2.22 Feedback and course outcomes 14

2.22.1 Administration and facilities 14

2.22.2 The training 15

2.22.3 Future needs 16

2.23 Debrief meetings 16

2.24 Issues arising 16

2.24.1 Equipment and field guides 16

2.24.2 Organisation of transport prior to the course 16

2.24.3 Number of participants 16

2.24.4 Numbers of birds caught 17

2.24.5 DSA 17

3 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 18

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 19

5 REFERENCES 20

APPENDIX 1 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPANTS 21

APPENDIX 2. CONTACT DETAILS OF PARTICIPANTS 22

APPENDIX 3. TRAINER PROFILES 26

AppENDIX 4. COURSE TIMETABLE 27

APPENDIX 5. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE 29

APPENDIX 6. FEEDBACK FORM 30

APPENDIX 7: FEEDBACK SUMMARY 33

FAO WWT WI Dagona AI Training Course Report

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SUMMARY There is a clear need for building capacity for national wild bird avian influenza surveillance programmes particularly in an African context. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Commission’s New FluBird project funded a three week advanced waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance training programme at the Dagona Base Camp in the Chad Basin National Park, Yobe State, northern Nigeria, in October/November 2009. The aim of the course was to build skills of ornithological practitioners and infrastructure to allow long term wild bird avian influenza surveillance to be established in this region of Nigeria and provide skilled personnel for surveillance in the countries of the other African participants. The course trained 31 participants from five mainly Chad Basin countries (Nigeria (23), Niger (2), Chad (2) and also Sudan (2) and Kenya (2)). The course proved to be very successful and was deemed by participants to have fully achieved its objectives and their personal objectives also.

The course was run by trainers from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and Wetlands International (WI). A variety of capture techniques were taught with the main focus on the advanced technique of cannon netting. Cannon netting has the potential to allow the capture of large numbers of ducks (the main target for avian influenza surveillance) and is of particular use in areas where other trapping methods cannot be used.

Duplicate sets of avian influenza samples were taken from trapped waterbirds, one set for the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria, and one set for the New FluBird partner University of Kalmar, Sweden.

Cannon netting is a technical, complex and potentially hazardous trapping technique and successful cannon netters and cannon netting teams require certain key attributes. Many of the already experienced participants proved themselves to be very technically adept and capable bird trappers and with a little extra training within existing experienced cannon netting teams should be competent at being part of a regional cannon netting team capable of both national and international wild bird surveillance programmes.

Given the experience of the Nigerian authorities and institutions in dealing with outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, the existing ornithological skills in Nigeria (primarily at the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, APLORI) and this, and previous, Nigerian capacity building and surveillance work it is proposed that Nigeria becomes a regional platform for future wild bird avian influenza activities.

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1 BACKGROUND Since 2006 there have been outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in poultry in numerous west and northern African countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti) with repeated outbreaks in Nigeria and Egypt. With respect to Nigeria, both poultry imports and wild birds have been implicated in the introduction of infection to this region although no direct evidence for the latter has been established (Gauthier-Clerc et al; 2007, Ducatez et al, 2006; Owoade et al, 2008). Nigeria has an important culture of harvesting and selling wild birds in market situations, where diseases may potentially be transferred between domestic and wild birds. Also, both legal and illegal trade of domestic and wild bird species may serve as mechanisms for virus introduction and spread.

Some of Nigeria’s wetlands represent internationally important areas for both Afrotropical and migratory Eurasian waterbird populations. Surveillance in these areas would provide important early warning and information relevant to disease control in both Africa and Europe given the nature of migratory flyways in the region. Interestingly, previous wild bird surveillance in Nigeria has reported cases of HPAI H5N2 in wild waterfowl with no reported concurrent infections in poultry (Gaidet et al, 2008).

Globally, wild bird avian influenza surveillance is fraught with complexities. These include:

1. gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology of the virus and the disease in wild birds hence difficulties in design of robust evidence-based surveillance strategies (Which species? When? Where? How?);

2. the difficulties in the practicalities of trapping sufficient wild birds to attain anywhere near an appropriate sample size;

3. the limited skills of personnel trapping birds, taking samples and testing them in OIE/FAO-approved laboratories;

4. the limited infrastructure to allow trapping of wild birds.

These limitations are often exacerbated in an African context. Whilst there are many excellent trained African ornithologists, specialist training in advanced trapping methods such as cannon netting which allows relatively unbiased catches of large numbers of birds, has been either non-existent or very limited.

There is a clear need to build capacity in trapping and surveillance skills and to provide the infrastructure to conduct sustained wild bird avian influenza surveillance across the region. To answer this need, a joint venture between FAO, Wetlands International (WI) and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) (funded by FAO and New FluBird) was developed i.e. a training course aimed at building skills of ornithological practitioners and infrastructure to allow long term surveillance to be established in this region of Nigeria and provide skilled personnel for surveillance in the countries of the other African participants.

Support for this proposed course was voiced at the successful FAO workshop entitled "Interministerial and Cross-Border Collaboration to Address Avian Influenza in Wild and Domestic Birds" held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in March 2009, attended by mainly personnel from Ministries of Agriculture and Environment from Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

New FluBird is a European Commission-funded project of a network of virologists and ornithologists to provide an early warning system for avian influenza in wild birds for the European Union. The objective is for New FluBird to achieve accurate coverage, sufficient detection and early warning capacity. This latter capacity building aims to enable site(s) to be equipped with appropriate material for obtaining samples and (local) teams to be trained in standardised operation of the equipment, methodologies for gathering and handling of the samples and the shipping to laboratories for virological investigations as per FAO guidelines. Both WI and WWT are partners in this project, the former being the coordinator of the ornithological partners. As part of this project Nigeria and the broader Chad Basin area have been identified as Higher Risk Sites by the New FluBird ornithological partners. Together, with FAO, New FluBird funded this course.

FAO, WI and WWT coordinated the course with WWT providing expertise in trapping and surveillance of wild birds. Additionally the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) represented the in-country ornithological partner who helped supply of equipment and other logistics; and AFRING were invited to help ensure coordination and longevity of capture and ringing programmes in Africa:

1. FAO

FAO’s Wildlife Programme, based within the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Animal Health Division has been recognized as a global leader in collecting scientific information to determine the role that wild birds play in the maintenance and spread of HPAI. To date, with respect to wild bird avian


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influenza issues, FAO’s work in Nigeria has included surveillance and training workshop activities. FAO were responsible for organising and funding all travel arrangements for participants, and accommodation and food logistics.

2. Wetlands International

Wetlands International has been coordinating wild bird avian influenza surveillance missions in Africa since 2006 through the support of FAO and the Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) and in collaboration with national and international partners, notably CIRAD. Surveillance has been conducted in Nigeria in 2007 and 2008 in partnership with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, APLORI, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the Nigerian National Parks, the National Health Laboratory of Luxembourg, the Ottenby Observatory in Sweden, and others. WI helped organise logistics of the course, in particular selection of, and liaison with, participants.

3. Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

WWT is an international wetland conservation charity. Like FAO and Wetlands International, WWT is a member of the UN Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds. WWT has extensive expertise in waterbird trapping and monitoring as well as wildlife health. WWT has been involved in international avian influenza surveillance and capacity building projects in a number of countries including the WWT FAO CIRAD Wetlands International Wild Bird Avian Influenza Surveillance Training Course held at WWT Slimbridge, UK, in 2007. WWT helped organise the logistics of the course and provided the three trainers covering all major aspects of the course.

4. A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI)

APLORI is a research institute connected to the University of Jos, Nigeria, and represents a centre for excellence in ornithology in west Africa. The institute trains students and groups in aspects of conservation biology. APLORI staff and students have been key members of previous avian influenza surveillance programmes within Nigeria and helped with practicalities and logistics of the course. APLORI’s Scientific Director, Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu, acted as one of the facilitators throughout the three week training course.

5. AFRING

The African Bird Ringing Scheme (AFRING) is an ongoing initiative aiming to improve the coordination and quality of bird ringing programmes within Africa. It focuses on capacity building, establishing regional cooperation and encouraging use of scientific data for bird and wetland conservation. AFRING is based in the Animal Demography Unit, Cape Town, South Africa.

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2 THE COURSE

2.1 Aim of the course

The aim of the course was:

To build skills of ornithological practitioners and infrastructure to allow long term wild bird avian influenza surveillance to be established in this region of Nigeria and provide skilled personnel for surveillance in the countries of the other African participants.

The objectives of the training course were:

To train course participants in methods of waterbird capture and marking, and sample collection, storage and transport.

To undertake practical waterbird capture and marking sessions, including use of traps and cannon nets (a particular focus), and undertake practical sample collection sessions.

To train and demonstrate principles and practicalities of personal health and safety.

To train and demonstrate practicalities of animal welfare.

It was made clear from the beginning of the course that a three week training programme was unlikely to provide sufficient experience to qualify participants as competent at catching and marking wild birds unsupervised, if starting as a beginner, and, in particular, the use of cannon nets, which involves explosive materials and has the potential to produce large catches of birds and therefore also has inherent major health and safety and animal welfare considerations. These are skills that require considerable experience in order to develop a sufficient level of competence, and this may take a number of years, involving much practical work under expert supervision (strict licensing systems control cannon netting in other parts of the world where it is well developed).

2.2 Location

The course took part at the Dagona Base Camp in the Chad Basin National Park, Yobe State, northern Nigeria. All formal teaching and practical aspects of building and constructing traps, and conducting practice cannon netting took place at the Base Camp. Waterbird capture took place in the surrounding wetlands of the Chad Basin National Park including: Muza, Shaguda and Ox Bow Lake.

2.3 Timing

Originally the course was planned to be held earlier in 2009 (February). For various reasons it was postponed until the autumn with the "Interministerial and Cross-Border Collaboration to Address Avian Influenza in Wild and Domestic Birds" workshop being held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel in March 2009 instead. This workshop facilitated the acceptability of this full training programme.

Training was meant to begin on Monday 26th October with all participants arriving before the 25th to allow travel to Dagona. However, flights for some participants did not arrive until after this date delaying the formal beginning of the course by two days. These two days were instead used for purchasing materials for traps and some basic ornithology and reconnaissance of local wetlands to identify suitable locations for waterbird capture. Formal teaching then began on the 28th (due to this delay and to maximise the training time, only one day off was given during the course).

2.4 Participants

A participant selection process was developed by WI, WWT and FAO. The full selection process criteria are appended (Appendix 1) with the summary presented below. The target audience was ornithological practitioners i.e. those with existing ornithological and bird trapping skills who were in need of advanced training.


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2.4.1 Participant Specification

The participant should be a capable fieldworker with previous ornithological knowledge and, ideally, bird handling and trapping experience. They should be technically adept and practical. They should have sufficient capacity and flexibility in their work programmes to be able to commit to extensive amounts of time in the field. It is likely that the participant will work for a wildlife conservation government or non-government organisation although is unlikely to be in a senior position. They should have good verbal communication abilities and be capable of strong team leadership. They should have sufficiently good English to be able to participate in a three week course taught in English. Understanding of wild bird avian influenza surveillance is useful but not required.

2.4.2 Selection Process

1. Country: The participant should come from a target country i.e. primarily west Africa, or other African country. Ideally at least two people from that country will be trained to provide some in-country mutual support once training is over.

2. Previous training and experience: It would be useful for the participant to have previous bird handling and trapping experience e.g. those who have already attended another wild bird trapping training course.

3. Current job – subject and level of seniority: The participant should work for a wildlife conservation organisation or relevant government department and a significant part of their job should involve fieldwork, i.e. they have the opportunity to use the skills learnt on this course once they return home.

4. General approach/attitude: The participant should be knowledgeable and enthusiastic i.e. they enjoy, and want to dedicate time to, ornithology and wild bird trapping.

5. As this training was being hosted by the government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ministries of Agriculture and Environment were allowed to invite additional participants.

Unfortunately various problems including delays in issuing of visas based on flight details meant that the participants from Mali and Mauritania were unable to attend. To help ensure sustainability of capture and marking activities within an African context, personnel from AFRING were invited to participate as trainers. Again unfortunately, because of delays, Marius Wheeler from AFRING was unable to attend. From this, 31 participants from seven countries (Nigeria-23, Niger-2, Chad-2, Sudan-2, Kenya-2) attended the training, a slightly larger group than desired, if the goal of the training had only been cannon-netting certification. Instead, the large number of participants ensured that more people received training and more disciplines were represented within the cohort of participants. However, it resulted in some challenges including; pre-course information not being sent to all participants, insufficient equipment (including personal protective equipment) for each participant, greater complexity in rapidly mobilising teams for fieldwork, greater difficulty approaching wildlife unseen, and more basic training having to be given to those additional participants that were not ornithological practitioners, which had the effect of diluting the training to those with a higher level of expertise. This additional basic training was expertly assisted by the experienced participants from APLORI and Kenya.

The final list of participants and their affiliations is shown in Table 1 and represents 31 people from five countries, the Chad Basin area representing higher risk areas identified as part of the New FluBird project. Appendix 2 gives the full contact details of all participants.

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Table 1. Names, countries and affiliations of participants

Name Country Job Title Affiliation

Dr. Bediguim Demtita Chad DSV/ Responsible de Prophylaxie Ministère de l'Elevage et des Ressources Animales

Djimasngar Mbaiti Chad Charge des Activites Grippe Aviaire Faune

Ministere de l’Environment et des Resources Halieutiques du Tchad (Direction des Parcs)

Wanyoike Wamiti Kenya Assistant Research Scientist National Museums of Kenya, Zoology Department

Mr. Bernard A. Amakobe Kenya Research Associate National Museums of Kenya

Dr. Maitouraré Chibkaou Niger Vétérinaire Directeur Dr Vétérinaire Directeur adjoint de la santé animale Direction de la Santé Animale au Ministère des Ressources Animales

Dr. Bangana Ibrahim Niger Inspecteur des Services Ministry of Animal Resources

Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu Nigeria Scientific Director A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

Mrs. Delmo Kesmen Nigeria Research Associate A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

Mr. Longtong Turshak Nigeria Research Associate A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

Taiye Adeniyi Adeanju Nigeria Research Associate A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

Shola Iwajomo Nigeria Research Associate A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

Usman Audu Kimbian Nigeria Higher Park Inspector Chad Basin National Park

Dr. Charity Bala Nigeria National Youth Service Corps Chad Basin National Park

Iorember Alhaji Philips Nigeria Assistant Park Warden Chad Basin National Park

Joshua I. Mamza Nigeria Assistant Park Inspector Chad Basin National Park

Dr. Tinuke Ahamed Nigeria Zonal Coorrdinator Federal Ministry Of Agriculture

Dr. Emmanuel Yarai Nigeria Epidemiology Officer/Field Officer Federal Ministry of Agriculture

Abdulmalik A. Abubakar Nigeria Wildlife Officer (Ornithology) Federal Ministry of Environment

Mrs. Agudah Ruth Nigeria Higher Wildlife Superintendant Federal Ministry of Environment

Koto M. Anakre Nigeria Wildlife Officer Federal Ministry of Environment

Ukpai, V.A. Nigeria Wildlife Officer Federal Ministry of Environment

Ezeh Chidozie C. Nigeria Wildlife Officer Federal Ministry of Environment

Uche Ogbonnaya Onu Nigeria Wildlife Officer Federal Ministry of Environment

Bakut T. Ayuba Nigeria Wildlife Officer Federal Ministry of Environment

Mrs. Olayemi J. Sola Nigeria Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Officer

Federal Ministry of Environment

Dr. El Oji Adamu Nigeria Wildlife Desk Officer Ministry of Agriculture

Sulaiman Inuwa Muhammad

Nigeria Conservation Officer, NCF-WOW Project

Nigerian Conservation Foundation

Harry Hanson Jr. Nigeria Conservation Officer (Projects) Nigerian Conservation Foundation

Ibrahim L. Muhammad Nigeria Principal Wildlife Officer Wings Over Wetlands Project

Dr. Aldo Gwake Lazarus Sudan Veterinarian Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism

Mr. Esmat Elfaki Mohammed Elhassan

Sudan Wildlife Biologist/Researcher Wildlife Research Center


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2.5 Trainers

Four trainers delivered the course (more details about these trainers can be found in Appendix 3):

1. Nicolas Tubbs (Specialist Groups & Expert Network Coordinator, Wetlands International) was responsible for providing the New FluBird perspective, organising course logistics and English/French interpretation.

2. Dr. Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health, WWT) was responsible for the training in avian influenza aspects of the course and organising course logistics.

3. Richard Hearn (Head of Species Monitoring, WWT) as a UK-licensed bird ringer and cannon netter was responsible for the majority of the classroom and practical training in capture methods (in particular cannon netting), ringing, ageing and sexing of birds.

4. David Paynter (Reserve Manager, WWT) as a UK-licensed duck ringer was primarily responsible for the practical aspects of bird trapping, in particular duck trapping, and ageing and sexing of birds.

Additional ornithological training was provided to the non-ornithologists by the participants from APLORI and Kenya.

2.6 Facilities

Chad Basin National Park staff at the Dagona Base Camp organised all local logistics prior to the arrival of the foreign trainers (on original instructions from WWT and subsequently from FAO). The Dagona Base Camp comprises a large hall suitable for teaching/meeting and eating, a bar, four chalets with three bedrooms each and a catering area. Electricity was provided from a generator which supplied the meeting hall throughout the day and evening, and supplied the chalets in the evenings.

2.7 Accommodation

The four trainers and eight participants were accommodated at the Dagona Base Camp. Others were accommodated at the Neadzp Guest House in Gashua (40 minutes drive away, appreciating that this is less than ideal for the very early morning bird catching activities before daybreak). The drivers stayed in other accommodation in Gashua. All accommodation was paid for by FAO.

2.8 Food

All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) were provided by a catering team brought into the Dagona Base Camp. Meals were served in the teaching hall/meeting room. All food and drinking water was paid for by FAO.

2.9 Daily subsistence allowance (DSA)

A 20% DSA was paid to participants as all transport, accommodation and food costs were covered by FAO (standard FAO procedure). Some Nigerian participants were unhappy with this arrangement which required FAO and Ministry of Environment officials (Dr. Tesfai Tseggai and Dr. John Mshelbwala, respectively) to visit the Dagona Base Camp to appease the situation.

2.10 Travel and transport

FAO arranged all flights to bring participants to Nigeria and covered all transport expenses. A letter of invitation from APLORI was sent to all participants and trainers in advance to aid with Nigerian visa applications.

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Ministry of Agriculture vehicles which were essential for the training

For the training, FAO provided one four wheel drive vehicle and driver and the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture provided six pick-up trucks plus drivers for the whole duration of the course. These vehicles were essential for the training and used for transport to and from Abuja, all fieldwork and carrying participants to and from the accommodation.

2.11 Language

The pre-course information informed participants that the course was taught in English however Nicolas Tubbs provided simultaneous English/French interpretation for the first half of the training. On Nicolas’ departure during week two, an interpreter supplied by Roger Abbah (Ieiba Enterprise) took on this role, although concerns were expressed by some French-speaking participants that this was not of sufficient standard at times. However, the vast majority of the formal language-dependent training in a classroom setting had been completed by this point.

2.12 Course structure

The course comprised of formal lectures during the first week to ensure all participants understood the principles of waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance before putting these into practice during weeks two and three. Practical workshops e.g. constructing duck traps and demonstrating cannon netting also took place in week one. Weeks two and three focussed on practical sessions in the field. Appendix 4 shows the final timetable. Details of weeks two and three are not shown as they were all reacting to the birds’ presence and behaviour.

To gain experience of avian influenza surveillance in different situations and national contexts, participants gave presentations about their own national surveillance programmes or other bird capture and marking experiences (in the timetable, Appendix 4, these are referred to as ‘delegate presentations’).

2.13 Course content

The main subjects trained were:

Capturing waterbirds using a variety of methods with a focus on duck traps and cannon netting

Principles and practicalities of handling, crating and marking (including ringing) waterbirds

Principles and practicalities of ageing and sexing waterbirds

Principles and practicalities of animal welfare

Principles and practicalities of collecting, storing and transporting avian influenza samples, and quality assurance


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Principles of wild bird avian influenza surveillance strategies

Principles of integrating ornithological expertise into disease control programmes

Principles and practicalities of human health and safety

See Appendix 4 for the detailed timetable of the course.

During practical sessions all participants were involved in building and setting traps or other capture equipment and thereafter trapping of birds. The nature of trapping requires minimal disturbance to wildlife and whilst this was difficult to maintain with so many participants, it was helped by dividing the group up to perform the activities e.g. placing traps in wetlands, checking traps or conducting reconnaissance to determine bird distribution and behaviour that was conducive to capture. Activities such as setting cannon nets and taking a cannon net catch were performed as one large group.

All participants had the opportunity to handle, ring, age, sex and swab (cloacal and oropharyngeal) birds and take biometric data.

2.14 Trapping and avian influenza surveillance equipment

A full cannon net set (with narrow net and mini net), mist nets, ringing equipment, equipment for taking biometrics, wind-up headlamps, wind-up lanterns, netting, bird bags, collapsible crates, AI surveillance equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) were purchased and shipped by WWT to APLORI (FAO-Nigeria kindly facilitating the release of the consignment from Nigerian customs). At the end of the course most of the equipment was left with the ornithologists at APLORI. Materials for construction of traps and extra holding crates were sourced locally.

2.15 Capture techniques demonstrated and practiced in the field

1. Cannon netting: this advanced trapping technique formed the main focus of the course. This technique was demonstrated and practiced in the absence of birds at the Dagona Base Camp during week one. Thereafter, three full sets were made and five attempts to catch birds made. Two catches were successful, one of mainly duck and one of waders. The latter catch allowed practice of ‘lifting’ the net containing many birds from the water – a vital technique when cannon netting waders that ensures problems with water logging are avoided.

Preparing for cannon netting: assembling the cannons and setting the net.

2. Duck traps: different designs for traps (including funnel traps and Wainwright traps) were constructed and placed in wetlands towards the end of week one. These were baited and checked twice daily. Although they did not trap many birds it was stressed to participants that had there been more time for identifying good trap locations, and for birds to become used to these foreign structures, the numbers caught could have been significant. Participants were encouraged to try out this relatively low technology option in their own situations.

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Constructing a duck trap and a set trap in a wetland.

3. Mist nets: the basic principles of this technique were demonstrated by trapping non-waterbirds in the woodlands around the Base Camp during week one. The technique was then used in the evening/dark over shallow wetlands for trapping waterbirds (mainly waders).

Mist netting passerines in the day and waterbirds over a wetland at night.

4. Noose traps: this local method for trapping waterbirds for food was tried but abandoned on the grounds of concern about animal welfare.

Setting local noose traps within a wetland.


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A total of 92 waterbirds were trapped (plus other passerines during mist netting sessions). Overall, the numbers of birds trapped was lower than what was possible in these wetlands, but this was largely down to not knowing the local area and the time required to identify good trapping sites. The Chad Basin National Park wardens were key to finding these areas and highlight the need for more reconnaissance before training can be conducted.

Three Helm Field Guides to the Birds of Western Africa (ISBN 978-0-7136-6692-2) were made available throughout the course. Attempts had been made to purchase these for all the expected participants but this WWT deal with the publishers had fallen through at the last moment. At the end of the course one of the field guides was given to the Chad Basin National Park staff, another to the Nigeria Conservation Foundation and the third copy to APLORI. Once back in UK, WWT sent a further two copies, one to the Ministry of Environment (c/o Dr. John Mshelbwala) and one to the Ministry of Agriculture (c/o Dr. J. Nyager). These guides were in great demand and seen as an essential need for ornithological work of any kind.

2.16 Avian influenza sampling

Vials containing virus transport medium and liquid nitrogen were supplied by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Nigeria. All other swabbing equipment was supplied by WWT.

The plan was to provide a set of samples for the NVRI and a duplicate set for the New FluBird partner laboratory, University of Kalmar, Sweden. As part of this New FluBird project the University of Kalmar AI research group under Prof. Bjorn Olsen and Dr. Jonas Waldenstrom http://www.hik.se/english/ has been screening a large proportion of the samples derived from New FluBird surveillance activities over the last three years of the project. Indeed they have a special relationship with Nigeria already having been involved in previous surveillance activities and training Nigerian ornithologists from APLORI in Sweden.

In total, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs were taken from 93 wild birds including 92 waterbirds, (see details in next section) during the training programme. Duplicate samples were taken from each bird. APLORI staff managed the cold chain of samples and both sets were delivered to the NVRI, Vom, by Dr. Manu of APLORI on 13th November 2009. FAO-Nigeria has been dealing with NVRI directly so it is hoped that they can help facilitate screening of the samples within Nigeria and export of the duplicate set to Sweden.

Sampling a Pintail for avian influenza surveillance

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2.17 Numbers and species of birds captured and sampled caught during the course

In total, some 93 individual wild birds (92 waterbirds) of nine species, were caught, processed and sampled. Table 2 illustrates the number of each species caught by different capture methods during the three week programme (some other passerines were trapped as part of mist netting demonstrations but AI samples were not taken).

Table 2. Details of numbers of birds caught by each trapping method

SPECIES

TRAPPING METHOD

Total Cannon Net

Duck Trap

Mist Net

Noose Trap

Collected dead

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1 1

Green-backed Heron Butorides striata 1

Garganey Anas querquedula 15

Pintail Anas acuta 17

Ruff Philomachus pugnax 31

Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus 3 8

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 3

Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata 12

African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens 1

Total 66 12 13 1 1 93

2.18 Health and safety

Protective coveralls (plasticized paper – cooler than full plastic/rubber), nitrile gloves, latex gloves, FP3 masks, disposable aprons and sleeves, together with disinfectant and disinfection equipment were purchased and shipped by WWT. Due to the greater than expected number of participants there was insufficient full PPE for everyone (trainers and e.g. scribes went without). However, the disposable aprons and liberal use of virucidal wipes in the field proved a good second best. Coveralls were not soaked in disinfectant at the end of each catch event but instead obvious bits of bird faeces were decontaminated and then coveralls were left baking in the sun for a few hours on each side to allow ultraviolet radiation to kill any potential viruses (it is appreciated that this is not ideal but was a pragmatic approach to working in extremely hot conditions).

2.19 Animal welfare

Throughout the course the importance of animal welfare was maintained as second only to human health and safety. It was stressed that as well as the ethical reasons for having good animal welfare standards, essential data e.g. that from ringing recoveries, are unreliable if birds have had their welfare compromised significantly.

2.20 Teaching resources

A double CD containing the following was sent to participants after the course (along with each participant’s attendance certificate).

Course and participant information and feedback

Presentations from teaching staff

Presentations from participants

Useful references and sources of information and equipment for catching birds


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FAO’s wild bird avian influenza surveillance manual

WWT’s wildfowl catching manual

Key avian influenza wild bird multilateral environmental agreements

Videos of bird capture

CD cover

2.21 Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance was provided to all participants (posted after the course due to limited access to printing facilities at the Dagona Base Camp). The format of the certificate is shown in Appendix 5.

It is important to note that this certificate of attendance does not represent a certificate of competence.

2.22 Feedback and course outcomes

A feedback session was held at the end of the course and a feedback form completed (Appendix 6).

All 30 remaining participants at that point completed the feedback form and the summarised top level results are shown in Table 3 with fuller summarised details in Appendix 7.

2.22.1 Administration and facilities

On a scale of i) very poor, ii) poor, iii) satisfactory, iv) good and v) excellent, the FAO planning of the course was ranked as ‘satisfactory’, the late bookings of flights being the greatest concern. The provision of information prior to the course was described overall as ‘good’ but breaking the data down further reveals that, not surprisingly, the least satisfied were those not known about by WI and WWT and who had therefore not received pre-course information.

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Administration of the course was described as ‘good’; the 20% DSA issue and lack of incentives being cited as the key concerns.

Overall, the accommodation was deemed to be ‘satisfactory’ with no clear difference between those staying at the Dagona Base Camp (verbally recognised as being of higher quality) and the Neadzp Guest House in Gashua.

The food caused many complaints and overall was judged as ‘poor’. It is worth noting however that this aspect is usually the most complained about in any long-term training course where mass catering is being provided.

From the trainers’ perspective it is worth noting that both the food and accommodation were above expectation and were considered to be very good for a field course in a remote area.

2.22.2 The training

The course was overwhelming judged to have fully achieved its objectives and the personal objectives of the participants. The lectures and practical sessions were judged to be ‘excellent’ and very useful. The delegate presentations were considered to be ‘good’ and very useful.

It is interesting that, although the course was pitched at practitioners with existing experience, even those without experience found the course very useful.

Cannon netting was noted as the highlight of the course with “trapping” generally being of the greatest benefit to participants.

Comments for course improvements were numerous; key points being the provision of more equipment (in particular binoculars and field guides), more training, fewer participants and more time.

Table 3. Summary of course feedback forms

QUESTIONS RESULTS

n=30

OVERALL SATISIFACTION Overall rating* Mean Score %

Did the course achieve its objectives? Fully 2.9/3 96.7

Did the course meet your objectives? Fully 2.9/3 95.6

ADMINISTRATION

FAO planning of trip Satisfactory 3.0/5 59.3

Information received prior to course Good 3.8/5 75.2

Organisation of the administration of the course Good 3.7/5 74

Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the training course

Excellent 4.8/5 96

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Accommodation Satisfactory 3.1/5 62

Food Poor 2.1/5 42.7

Teaching facilities Good 4.4/5 88.7

TRAINING

Lectures Excellent 4.8/5 95.8

How useful were the lectures? Very useful 3.0/3 98.9

Practical sessions Excellent 4.7/5 94

How useful were the practical sessions? Very useful 2.9/3 96.7

Delegate presentations Good 4.3/5 86.7

How useful were the delegate presentations? Very useful 2.8/3 94.3

*Those ratings highlighted in bold represent the top possible score


16

2.22.3 Future needs

The most important needs for the participant’s countries were (in descending order) funding, capacity building, trained personnel, and equipment (binoculars, telescopes, PPE, vehicles, AI sampling). The need for cooperation with international organisations and development of a collaborative network within Africa were also highlighted.

The extraordinary team spirit and hard work and competence of many of the participants was both heartening and encouraging as cannon netting teams needs to be cohesive, communicative and diligent.

Some of the diligent international team players

2.23 Debrief meetings

At the end of the three week course Ruth Cromie met with FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Helder Muteia, and in a separate meeting with The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, namely Dr. J. Nyager, Dr. Gashash Ahmed and Dr. D. Kwange. From the second meeting there was clear support for the development of Nigeria as a regional platform for wild bird avian influenza surveillance and wild bird capture. Moreover, there was a commitment to aiding release of the duplicate set of samples to Sweden. WWT and WI committed to keeping the Ministry fully informed about future surveillance activities.

2.24 Issues arising

2.24.1 Equipment and field guides

There is a clear need to provide all practicing ornithologists with at least basic equipment i.e. binoculars and bird field guides. To begin to understand the epidemiology or role of wild bird in the HPAI H5N1 situation accurate bird identification is essential.

2.24.2 Organisation of transport prior to the course

To ensure those deserving of training receive visas in time, earlier booking of flights would be valuable.

2.24.3 Number of participants

Although it was useful to train the large number of participants, advanced technical training to produce cannon netters would have been more effective with fewer participants on the course.

17

2.24.4 Numbers of birds caught

Although over 90 waterbirds were caught during the course, this was insufficient for comprehensive training of capture techniques and due mainly to a lack of nearby wetlands at which it was possible to trap birds. Better prior local knowledge would have helped this situation and perhaps a different time of year may have been beneficial for providing more catching opportunities.

2.24.5 DSA

Although some delegates were unhappy about receiving only 20% DSA it is the trainers’ belief that the upfront organisation of all food, accommodation and transport was essential for the effective delivery of this training course. The provision of a 100% DSA for each participant to try to locate cheaper food and accommodation options would have added considerable delays to a busy timetable and affected the training. It is suggested that all participants are made fully aware of this system prior to attending any course and then a choice as to whether to attend or not can be made at this stage. It is also suggested that a representative from FAO be present during at least key parts of the course to allow trainers to concentrate on delivering training.


18

3 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS The three week course was deemed to be very successful by both trainers and participants and achieved its objectives and hence its overall aim of facilitating the development of national avian influenza surveillance programmes. All participants received a good overview of different trapping techniques suitable for waterbirds, particularly ducks, and the avian influenza surveillance process. The cannon netting training was the most highly appreciated and valuable aspect of the course, although as the course was too short a period to train participants to be fully competent cannon netters, capable of operating unassisted, further training will be required. However, this course provided an excellent opportunity to identify key individuals who should receive such further training in order that they can lead an independent cannon netting team in Nigeria in the future.

The course also provided an excellent opportunity to better understand and develop waterbird capture techniques of greatest relevance to the wetlands around Dagona. It was clear that, given short sampling periods which are normally the case and which make the construction of large duck traps rather impractical, cannon netting is likely to provide the best option for catching the majority of the priority target species. Capture of other priority species, e.g. diving ducks, requires greater investment in trapping, including the construction of larger traps in more suitable locations that were not accessible during this training course. This local knowledge is essential for future success and is now present within key local individuals who will be involved in future waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance in this area.

Finally, the course also provided invaluable experience that allows the trainers to make key recommendations regarding the further development of waterbird capture, especially with respect to cannon netting, and avian influenza surveillance in Africa, particularly the Chad Basin and others parts of west Africa:

1. Cannon netting is likely to be the most cost effective method for the future capture of good numbers of priority species (mainly dabbling ducks). However, it is important to note it is unsuitable for some other priority species (e.g. diving ducks) and for the majority of these, traps present the best option.

2. The development of a cannon netting team that can operate independently requires:

a. Further training, both in-country and elsewhere where experienced cannon netting teams already operate (e.g. UK) for a few key individuals (2-3 people) considered likely to be able to lead a (Nigerian) cannon netting team.

b. Further training for other members of the core team (8-10 people), which is best carried out in-country.

3. The development of effective duck trapping at the wetlands around Dagona requires:

a. The development of more suitable, probably larger more permanent, traps

b. The development of a team of people able to maintain such traps and ensure that capture options are maintained for periods when ringing teams can visit and operate the traps.

4. Broader training courses also have an important role in the future development of waterbird capture and avian influenza surveillance, but for the success of these to be maximised the following considerations should be implemented:

a. Training courses require fewer participants of more homogenous previous experience

b. Greater availability of local knowledge, including prior to the training course, on the distribution and capture opportunities for waterbirds.

5. Equipment provision is a key requirement to ensure the skills developed during such training can be utilised subsequently. The priority needs for individuals are optical equipment (binoculars and telescopes) and bird identification field guides, as well as further bird capture equipment for individuals qualified to use it. Vehicles, personal protective equipment, and avian influenza sampling equipment are also required.

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4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are grateful to staff in FAO for organisation of transport for participants, also FAO-Nigeria staff, Dr. Tesfai Tseggai, Mrs. Evelyn Yeye, Mr. Moses Obikpe and Mrs. Gloria Ndupuh and FAO Headquarters staff Dr. Scott Newman, Sabrina Mayoufi, Emmanuel Moncada, and Jeevanandhan Duraisamy.

We are grateful to Dr. John Mshelbwala for taking time from his busy schedule to help resolve issues arising.

The authors would like to thank Wanyoike Wamiti and Bernard Amakobe and those from APLORI for their assistance throughout the course particularly in the training of the less experienced participants.

Usman Kimbian and Beelu, and other staff of the Dagona Base Camp worked extremely hard to produce excellent facilities that ensured that the training was straightforward. The knowledge and willingness of the guides was invaluable and we are very grateful to Hashimu and Zana in particular. Tama the Catering Manager was helpful and we would like to thank her for being cheerful and gracious in the face of many complaints!

The drivers provided an excellent service, working anti-social hours and always doing so with good grace.

Particular thanks go to Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu for facilitating many of the logistical aspects of the course and his exceptional support for the training.


20

5 REFERENCES Ducatez, M.F., C.M. Olinger, A.A. Owoade, S. De Landtsheer, W. Ammerlaan, H.G. Niesters, A.D. Osterhaus,

R.A. Fouchier and C.P. Muller (2006). Avian flu: multiple introductions of H5N1 in Nigeria.Nature 442 (7098):37.

Gauthier-Clerc, M., C. Lebarbenchon and F. Thomas (2007). Recent Expansion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1: A Critical Review. Ibis 149: 202-214.

Nicolas Gaidet, Giovanni Cattoli, Saliha Hammoumi, Scott H. Newman, Ward Hagemeijer, John Y. Takekawa, Julien Cappelle, Tim Dodman, Tony Joannis, Patricia Gil, Isabella Monne, Alice Fusaro, Ilaria Capua, Shiiwuua Manu, Pierfrancesco Micheloni, Ulf Ottosson, John H. Mshelbwala, Juan Lubroth, Joseph Domenech, François Monicat (2008). Evidence of infection by H5N2 HPAI viruses in healthy wild waterfowl. PLoS Pathog. 15; 4 (8): e1000127.

Owoade, Ademola A; N.A. Gerloff, M.F. Ducatez, J.O. Taiwo, J.R. Kremer and C.P. Muller (2008). Replacement of sublineages of avian influenza (H5N1) by reassortments, sub-Saharan Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases;14(11):1731-5.

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/ducatez-mf

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/olinger-cm

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/owoade-aa

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/de-landtsheer-s

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/ammerlaan-w

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/niesters-hg

http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/osterhaus-ad



http://www.labmeeting.com/papers/author/muller-cp

http://www.labmeeting.com/paper/26813806/ducatez-2006-avian-flu-multiple-introductions-of-h5n1-in-nigeria

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APPENDIX 1 SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPANTS Selection Process for Participants for the Capacity Building in Wild Bird Trapping and Avian Influenza Surveillance in Nigeria, October/November 2009

Course Aim: Build capacity and infrastructure for long-term waterbird monitoring and avian influenza surveillance as part of the investigation of the potential role of wild birds in the transmission of avian diseases in mainly west African countries.

Course Activities:

Training participants to safely trap and handle wild birds by various means including cannon netting (which is technically complex and has many inherent safety concerns), duck traps (including building traps), and mist netting, plus ringing, ageing and sexing of birds.

Training participants in taking oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs for avian influenza virus detection safely, and the logistics of sample collection and cold chain.

Participant Specification

The participant should be a capable fieldworker with previous ornithological knowledge and bird handling and ideally bird trapping experience. They should be technically adept and practical. They should have sufficient capacity and flexibility in their work programmes to be able to commit to extensive amounts of time in the field. It is likely that the participant will work for a wildlife conservation government or non-government organisation although is unlikely to be in a senior position. They should have good verbal communication abilities and be capable of strong team leadership. They should have sufficiently good English to be able to participate in a three week course taught in English. Understanding of wild bird avian influenza surveillance is useful but not required.

Selection Process

1. Country: The participant should come from a target country i.e. primarily west Africa, or other African country. Ideally at least two people from that country will be trained to provide some in-country mutual support once training is over.

2. Previous training and experience: It would be useful for the participant to have previous bird handling and trapping experience e.g. those who have already attended another wild bird trapping training course.

3. Current job – subject and level of seniority: The participant should work for a wildlife conservation organisation or relevant government department and a significant part of their job should involve fieldwork, i.e. they have the opportunity to use the skills learnt on this course once they return home.

4. General approach/attitude: The participant should be knowledgeable and enthusiastic i.e. they enjoy, and want to dedicate time to, ornithology and wild bird trapping.


22

APPENDIX 2. CONTACT DETAILS OF PARTICIPANTS

Name Country Job Title Affiliation email phone Contact details

Dr. Bediguim Demtita

Chad DSV/ Responsible de Prophylaxie

Ministère de l'Elevage et des Ressources Animales

[email protected]

00235 6257148 Ministere de l'Elevage, Direction des Services Veterinaires, BP. 750 N'djamena, Tchad

Djimasngar Mbaiti Chad Charge des Activites Grippe Aviaire Faune

Ministere de l’Environment et des Resources Halieutiques du Tchad (Direction des Parcs)

[email protected] 00235 640 2646 Ministere de l’Environnement et des Ressources Halieutiques du Tchad (Direction des Parcs) Box 2115, N'Djamena, Tchad

Wanyoike Wamiti Kenya Assistant Research Scientist

National Museums of Kenya, Zoology Department

[email protected]/[email protected]

00254 722574529, 00254 20 3742131/ 61-4 ext 2241/58

PO Box 70898-00400, Tom Mboya St. Nairobi, Kenya

Mr. Bernard A. Amakobe

Kenya Research Associate

National Museums of Kenya

[email protected]

002540203742161ext.2243/ 0203742161/4 ext. 2242/Mobile 254721 517910/Fax254020741061

Section of Ornithology, Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658-00100, GPO, Nairobi, Kenya

Dr. Maitouraré Chibkaou

Niger Vétérinaire Directeur

Dr Vétérinaire Directeur adjoint de la santé animale Direction de la Santé Animale au Ministère des Ressources Animales

[email protected]

00227 96871296/ 0022720732147

Ministere de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, BP 12091, Niger

Dr. Bangana Ibrahim

Niger Inspecteur des Services

Ministry of Animal Resources

[email protected]

0022793821257/ 0022720732147

Ministere de l'Elevage et des Industries Animales, BP 12091, Niger

Mrs. Delmo Kesmen

Nigeria Research Associate

A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute

[email protected]

00234 803 5695124

A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute (University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box 13404, Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Mr. Longtong Turshak



[email protected] / [email protected]

00234 8039 66 4891

A P Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Insitute (University of Jos Biological Conservatory), P.O. Box 13404 Laminga, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

23


Taiye Adeniyi Adeanju



[email protected]

mlux352691115046/0023448035099049/002347083394555


Shola Iwajomo Nigeria Research Associate


[email protected]

00234 8036199461/00234 8057401508


Usman Audu Kimbian

Nigeria Higher Park Inspector

Chad Basin National Park [email protected]

00234 08053539344 / 00234 8022432606 / 00234 7066920985

Chad Basin National Park, P.M.B. 1026, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Dr. Charity Bala Nigeria National Youth Service Corps


00234 8064715164 / 00234 80829437338 / 00234 8029437338 / 00234 8064715164


Iorember Alhaji Philips

Nigeria Assistant Park Warden


00234 8063239264


Joshua I. Mamza Nigeria Assistant Park Inspector


00234 8022364310 / 00234 7035518131


Dr. Tinuke Ahamed Nigeria Zonal Coorrdinator

Federal Ministry Of Agriculture

[email protected]

00234 8036063112

Federal Department of Livestock PMB 135, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

Dr. Emmanuel Yarai

Nigeria Epidemiology Officer/Field Officer

Federal Ministry of Agriculture

[email protected]

00234 8038394622

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Damaturu, Federal Secretariat, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abdulmalik A. Abubakar

Nigeria Wildlife Officer (Ornithology)


[email protected]

00234 8066333850

Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry, Abuja, Nigeria, PMB 468, Garili, Abuja

Mrs. Agudah Ruth Nigeria Higher Wildlife Superintendant


[email protected]

00234 08059648509

Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry, Abuja, Nigeria, PMB 468, Abuja

Koto M. Anakre Nigeria Wildlife Officer


[email protected]

00234 8074171138

Federal Ministry of Environment, Lafia Field Office, Nasarawa State, Nigeria


24


Ukpai, V.A. Nigeria Wildlife Officer


[email protected]

00234 8037367714

Federal Ministry of Environment, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Ezeh Chidozie C. Nigeria Wildlife Officer


[email protected]

00234 8059648833/ 002348037848559

Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry, Abuja

Uche Ogbonnaya Onu

Nigeria Wildlife Officer


[email protected]

00234 8023297889

Federal Ministry of Environment, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Bakut T. Ayuba Nigeria Wildlife Officer


[email protected] 00234 8034460969

Federal Ministry of Environment, Dept. of Forestry, Abuja

Mrs. Olayemi J. Sola

Nigeria Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Officer


[email protected]

00234 8023108310

Federal Ministry of Environment, Environmental Conservation, Lagos, Nigeria

Dr. El Oji Adamu Nigeria Wildlife Desk Officer

Ministery of Agriculture [email protected] / [email protected]

00234 8036843929

Federal Department of Livestock, PMB 135, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria

Sulaiman Inuwa Muhammad

Nigeria Conservation Officer, NCF-WOW Project


[email protected] / [email protected]

00234 08033239823 / 00234 8023352244

Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Wings Over Wetlands Project, PO Box 14, Nguru, Yobe State

Harry Hanson Jr. Nigeria Conservation Officer (Projects)


[email protected]/[email protected]

00234 08034407960/ 012642498

Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Wings Over Wetlands Project, PO Box 14, Nguru, Yobe State

Ibrahim L. Muhammad

Nigeria Principal Wildlife Officer

Wings Over Wetlands Project

[email protected]

00234 08027946463 / 00234 80661168531 / 00234 8055547149

Ministry of Environment, Jigawa State, Conservation Dept, Hadejia Wetland Game Reserve, Nigeria

Dr. Aldo Gwake Lazarus

Sudan Veterinarian Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism

[email protected]

00234 912801855

Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation & Tourism, Government of South Sudan (Goss)/ Box 77, Juba, Sudan

Mr. Esmat Elfaki Mohammed Elhassan

Sudan Wildlife Biologist/Researcher

Wildlife Research Center [email protected]

00249 911622431

University of Khartoum, PO Box 321/18, Khartoum, Sudan

25


Facilitators

Dr. Shiiwua A. Manu

Nigeria Scientific Director


[email protected]

00234 8038501780


Nicolas Tubbs Netherlands

Specialist Groups & Expert Network Coordinator

Wetlands International [email protected]

0031 318-660927/Mobile 0031 6 33931425

Wetlands International, PO Box 471, 6700 AL Wageningen, The Netherlands

Ruth Cromie UK Head of Wildlife Health

WWT [email protected]

0044 (0)1453 891254/Fax 0044 1453 890827

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT, UK

Richard Hearn UK Head of Species Monitoring


0044(0)1453 891185/Fax 0044 1453 890827


David Paynter UK Reserve Manager


0044 1453 891178/Fax 0044 1453 890827



26

APPENDIX 3. TRAINER PROFILES

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Trainer Profiles

Dr. Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health) received her Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology in 1991 from University College, London. She has worked on wildfowl immunology in Hong Kong and diseases of marsupials at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA. Since 1997, Ruth has worked at WWT, her responsibilities including disease control and management within captive bird populations, wildlife health research, and running WWT’s Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee. Ruth teaches on a number of post graduate conservation and wildlife health courses including co-directing the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Summer School in Endangered Species Conservation and Management. Since August 2005, she has been a member of WWT’s Avian Influenza Management Strategy Group developing contingency plans for the organisation’s zoos, nature reserves and visitor centres. Ruth sits on the UK government’s Ornithological Expert Panel on wild bird surveillance and AI contingency planning, and on the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) co-convened Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds. She has been involved in wild bird catching and health screening including AI surveillance in UK, Iceland, Greenland and Kenya. Recently she has been involved in writing AI policy in the form of resolutions for Ramsar Convention, CMS and other multilateral environmental agreements.

Mr. Richard Hearn (Head of Species Monitoring) has worked at WWT for more than 15 years and is an experienced waterfowl biologist. He has managed and coordinated the WWT Monitoring Programme for three years, including waterbird ringing and the Goose & Swan Monitoring Programme. He has more than 22 years of ringing experience, has held a cannon netting licence since 1996, and been a ringing trainer since 1998. He is experienced at catching wildfowl across the Africa-Eurasia region, including training of wildfowl ringers in Botswana and Kenya (the latter via two FAO-funded AI surveillance expeditions). He is the Assistant Coordinator of the Wetlands International/IUCN-SSC Duck Specialist Group.

Dave Paynter (Reserve Manager) has managed the nature reserve at Slimbridge for over 25 years. He is a very experienced wildfowl ringer with over 25 years experience, and is responsible for implementing most of the field and ringing activity at Slimbridge including the coordination of swan pipe catches. Dave’s ability to catch large numbers of birds using various trapping techniques has contributed significantly to the UK’s live wild bird AI surveillance programme. He has undertaken wildfowl monitoring in Azerbaijan and is experienced at catching wildfowl on the Russian tundra as well as the UK.

Wetlands International Trainer Profile

Nicolas Tubbs (Specialist Group and Expert Network Coordinator) is a Wildlife Biologist and received an MSc degree in Biodiversity and Sustainability at Leiden University. He has years of field experience and has worked in numerous African countries in particularly remote conditions. He is experienced in coordinating international initiatives. Nicolas has worked for Wetlands International for several years for which he has worked on Avian Influenza amongst other wetland biodiversity related issues. Nicolas is managing and coordinating the New-FluBird Project which Wetlands International is co-coordinating with Erasmus MC.

27

APPENDIX 4. COURSE TIMETABLE

Avian influenza surveillance and waterbird capture training course: Dagona, Chad Basin National Park, 26 October-13th November 2009

WEEK 1 Speaker/leader

Day 1

08h30 Welcome, introductions and overview of course RLC/RDH/NT

09hr30 Presentation: Update on the global HPAI H5N1 situation RLC

10hr00 Presentation: HPAI H5N1 and the role of wild birds RLC

10hr30 Break

11hr00 Presentation: New FluBird: coordinated EU network for wild bird surveillance NT

11hr45 Presentation: Wetlands International in Nigeria (IWC/WoW) NT

12hr30 Lunch

15hr30 Workshop: Wild bird surveillance strategies RLC

16hr30 Presentation: Overview of waterbird monitoring, focusing on value of marking RDH

17hr15 Presentation: AFRING – including summary of state of waterbird ringing in Africa, esp West Africa RDH

18hr00 Summing up

Day 2

09hr00 Presentation: Guide to the guidance on AI and wild birds including an introduction to the Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds

RLC

09hr45 Presentation: Integrating ornithological expertise into disease control programmes RLC

10hr30 Break

11hr00 Presentation: Principles of trapping RDH

11hr45 Presentation: Handling and processing techniques and animal welfare RDH

12hr30 Delegate presentations ALL

13hr00 Lunch

14hr30 Presentation: Avian influenza sample collection, storage, transport and data management RLC

15hr15 Presentation: Principles of human health and safety including personal protective equipment RLC

16hr00 Delegate presentations ALL

17hr00 Summing up


28

Day 3

09hr00 Practical: Making traps for ducks and waders DBP/RDH

Break

12hr15 Presentation: Ageing techniques RDH

13hr00 Lunch

14hr30 Presentation: Marking techniques RDH

15hr15 Presentation: HPAI and wild bird Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness (CEPA) including dealing with the media

RLC

16hr00 Presentation: Cannon netting RDH

16hr45 Delegate presentations

Day 4

09hr00 Presentation: Other waterbird capture techniques RDH

09hr45 An outbreak investigation exercise RLC

10hr30 Break

11hr00 Presentation: Selection of capture sites RDH/DBP


13hr00 Lunch

14hr30 Presentation: Data collection, management and uses RDH


16hr00 Summing up

17hr45 Feedback on taught aspect of course ALL

WEEK 2 Practical fieldwork: trapping waterbirds in Dagona wetlands by e.g. traps, mist nets and cannon netting, with AI sampling RDH/DBP/RLC

WEEK 3 Practical fieldwork: trapping waterbirds in Dagona wetlands by e.g. traps, mist nets and cannon netting, with AI sampling RDH/DBP/RLC

RLC Ruth Cromie (Head of Wildlife Health, WWT) RDH Richard Hearn (Head of Waterbird Monitoring) NT Nicholas Tubbs (New FluBird Coordinator, Wetlands International) DBP Dave Paynter (Reserve Manager, WWT Slimbridge)

29

APPENDIX 5. CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE


30

APPENDIX 6. FEEDBACK FORM

Feedback Form

Course title: Wild Bird Trapping and Avian Influenza Surveillance Training Course,

Dagona, Chad Basin National Park

Course dates: 26th October – 13th November 2009

1. Name (helpful but optional)

2. Did the course achieve its objectives? (please tick one)

Fully □ Partly □ Not at all □

3. Did the course meet your objectives? (please tick one)

Fully □ Partly □ Not at all □

4. Which part(s) of the course did you find of most benefit and why?

5. Which part(s) of the course did you find of least benefit and why?

6. How could the course be improved?

31

7. Please circle a number and provide comments where applicable.(5 = excellent, 4 = good, 3 =

satisfactory, 2 = poor, 1 = very poor)

Administration

FAO planning of your trip 5 4 3 2 1

Information received prior to course 5 4 3 2 1

Organisation of the administration of the course 5 4 3 2 1

Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the training course 5 4 3 2 1

Comments:

Facilities and services

Accommodation 5 4 3 2 1

Food 5 4 3 2 1

Teaching facilities 5 4 3 2 1

Comments:

Training

Lectures 5 4 3 2 1

How useful were these to you?

Very useful □ Somewhat useful □ Not useful □

Comments:

Practical sessions 5 4 3 2 1



Comments:

Delegate presentations 5 4 3 2 1




32

Comments:

8. Future needs

What country (or region) do you work in? _______________________________

List the five most important needs your country (or region) has in terms of wild bird avian influenza

surveillance:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

9. Any other comments

33

APPENDIX 7: FEEDBACK SUMMARY

QUESTIONS RESULTS

(n = 30)

Overall rating

Mean score % Count (n=30)

Did the course achieve its objectives? Fully 2.9 / 3 96.7

Did the course meet your objectives? Fully 2.9 / 3 95.6

Which part(s) of the course did you find of most benefit and why? (Top 5)

Cannon-netting 14

Trapping 10

AI surveillance 6

Practical training 6

Sample collection 5

Which part(s) of the course did you find of least benefit and why?

Trapping methods (they are not applicable in country) 5

Ringing 1

Theoretical parts 1

How could the course be improved? (Top 5)

Providing equipment for all 8

Regional refresher courses 8

Fewer participants 4

More time 4

Making participants more comfortable 3

ADMINISTRATION

FAO planning of trip Satisfactory 3.0 / 5 59.3

Information received prior to course Good 3.8 / 5 75.2

Organisation of the administration of the course Good 3.7 / 5 74.0

Organisation of the teaching & technical component of the training course

Excellent 4.8 / 5 96.0

Comments

Poor/late administration (FAO) 13

Give participants money so they can spend it rather than organisers 4

WWT/WI information and organisation was excellent 3

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Accommodation Satisfactory 3.1 / 5 62.0

Food Poor 2.1 / 5 42.7

Teaching facilities Good 4.4 / 5 88.7

Comments

Poor food 17

Too much travel 5

Poor accommodation 4

Teaching facilities need to be improved 2

TRAINING

Lectures Excellent 4.8 / 5 95.8

Usefulness of lectures Very useful 3.0 / 3 98.9

Comments

Informative 9

Need provision of field equipment 1

Already familiar with topics covered 1


34

Good overview of expectations 1

More detail needed 1

Good workshop facilitation enabled exchange of ideas 1

Bird id should be incorporated in lectures 1

Encouaging and motivational 1

Good AI background 1

Practical sessions Excellent 4.7 / 5 94.0

How useful were the practical sessions? Very useful 2.9 / 3 96.7

Comments

Good hands-on experiences 9

More time needed 1

Need more practical training 1

More background info needed 1

Delegate presentations Good 4.3 / 5 86.7

How useful were the delegate presentations? Very useful 2.8 / 3 94.3

Comments

Useful to learn about other country's experiences 11

Too statistical 1

Presentations should include info on poultry 1

Useful information on migratory flyways key to AI 1

Off the point 1

REGIONAL NEEDS

Field equipment 24

Capacity building (training) 23

Funding 13

Trained personnel 12

Sustainable/consistent surveillance 12

Cooperation with international organisations 5

PPE 5

Vehicles 4

Collaborative network in West Africa 4

Willing staff of relevant ministeries/organisations 3

Training of national park officers 3

Training facilities (computers, projectors, etc) 2

Samples should be analysed asap 2

Greater knowledge to different sectors 2

Training in countries not included in this course 2

Regional workshops to exchange information 2

Integrating AI into relevant govt departments 2

fao wwt wi waterbird capture and avian influenza … · fao wwt wi waterbird capture and avian...

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