Experts say that unlike domestic poultry, which die almost immediately after becoming infected with the virus, migratory birds and especially some waterfowl, can survive for several weeks. This increases the chances of the virus being spread along their migratory routes.

Zhalong, situated south of Qiqihar, a city in western Heilongjiang Province, is on the flight route of migratory birds and this increases the risk of a possible bird flu outbreak on the reserve, according to Wang Wenfeng, deputy head of Administration for Zhalong State-Level Nature Reserve.

In addition to activating a daily reporting mechanism the reserve administration has increased open-air monitoring at four observation stations, said Wang. "All injured birds that are rescued are tested for the bird flu antibody and are not released back into the reserve until they are completely cleared of bird flu virus worries," added Wang.

The expert said that this is the migration period and if just one of any number of flocks of birds carried the virus the whole migratory route could be contaminated by them.

Apart from vaccinating all red-crowned cranes on the reserve workers have been instructed to put rare and precious fowls into cages instead of leaving them on the wetlands. Red-crowned crane shelters are being disinfected on a regular basis.

Zhalong, which has 230 rare birds of 13 species, including 202 artificially-bred red-crowned cranes, Xianghai Lake Nature Reserve and Momoge Nature Reserve, both in Jilin Province, are the three major crane protection areas in China. Some 600 red-crowned cranes have been bred at the centers.

In Chinese culture the crane represents longevity.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2006)