Important Doc's

Notice to all Victorian Racing Pigeon Fanciers

Agriculture Victoria Control Order – Pigeon Racing suspended

Following the detection of H5N1 Avian Influenza in a wild bird in Clyde , south east of Melbourne on Friday 7^th August, Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Graeme Cooke has issued a Control Order limiting the movement of poultry and birds. The control order is attached and can also be found on the Agriculture Victoria website by clicking on the link H5N1 Avian Influenza and then Control Order. The Control Order can also be found in the Victorian Government Gazette. The owners of poultry and birds whose flocks are larger than 50 birds are to confine their birds to their property. My interpretation of this order is that under these current restrictions pigeons can be loft flown. They cannot however be tossed or raced. The Control Order came into effect at midnight on the 7^th August and is due to expire at midnight on the 21^st August. The Control Order does however state that the period of restriction may be shortened or extended. The Victorian Pigeon Racing Industry has been recognized as a stakeholder in the control of Avian Influenza with me being the point of contact. I will contact AgVic and seek a meeting with Dr Cooke to develop an understanding of the current situation and how future developments are likely to affect pigeon racing. I will also investigate the possibility of an exemption permit, which would allow racing to resume. Multiple cases of AI have been detected in Victorian shorebirds in recent days . The recent detection in a wild terrestrial bird, however, is of particular relevance because it indicates that the virus is now spreading horizontally through wild birds. It was understood that if AI was detected an exclusion zone, where bird movement would be restricted, would be developed. It is perhaps a bit surprising to many fanciers that the exclusion zone is quite large , effectively covering the southern half of Victoria. My thought is that with fresh cases being reported on a daily basis and with evidence, now, of the virus spreading through a wild bird population , AgVic has decided to , for now, limit the movement of birds, including pigeons , in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus until the whole situation becomes more clear. It is impossible to predict the future but essentially future decisions will depend on how well the spread of the virus is controlled. If outbreaks are identified and controlled then normal bird movement may be re-established. If , however, further outbreaks occur or outbreaks prove difficult to control, one would imagine, that the current restrictions on bird movement could be extended. Fanciers have a role to play in the control of AI and should follow the four guidelines listed in my previous AI information document emailed to racing fanciers. Fanciers should also note that there are considerable penalties for bird keepers who fail to comply with the Control Order.