Okay, the title refers to the war on the H5N1 virus (Avian Flu virus), but I figured it was a little more provocative this way.  There’s an opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune (found via Loose Wire) about the fight against the avian flu and how the spread of the virus shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone since it is following known migratory patterns.  The author, Laurie Garrett, suggests that government officials should recruit birders to the cause:

One of the best untapped resources in this epic battle against
influenza is bird-watchers, who are among the most fanatic hobbyists in
the world. The major bird-watching organizations and safari clubs ought
to work with the World Health Organization and OIE, the World
Organization for Animal Health, to set up Web-based notification sites,
where birders could report sightings of groups of dead birds, and the
movements of key migrating species.

Until a little over a year ago I wouldn’t have paid this any attention because, quite frankly, I didn’t know any birders.  Now I do and I’m finding that the birding community is as fanatic as the author describes. What makes this a particularly good idea is that birders are freakishly attentive to detail and to logging the birds they see, where they see them and how often they see them.  That makes them perfect for this effort.  As long as we don’t ask them to get in front of a camera (these aren’t typically extroverted people from what I’ve heard) the author’s plan should work swimmingly.