I've been wanting to post this for some time, and I figured I might as well do it today.

Should the bird flu come to America, the 3 greatest threats to it rapidly spreading are these 3 birds:  the Starling, English Sparrow, and feral pigeons.  

Why these birds?  Because these THRIVE around humans.  Should the virus come to America and mutate, these will be the biggest factor in it's spreading.  Even if the virus doesn't come, hunting these birds is good for the local songbird population.

Info on the birds:

Starling
-NOT native to the America's.  It was introduced on the east coast in the late 1800's by an acclimatization society.  Since then they have spread like wildfire. See HERE for population maps.
-Easily identified.  It has a short, stubby tail, a long beak, and when seen up close it has speckles accross it's body.  In the summer it's beak is yellow and in the winter it is blue-black.
-It is NOT a cute helpless little creature.  It is well known to take over bluebird and purple martin nests, as well as woodpeckers and other species of birds.  It will get right in the nest, stab the nesting bird to death with its long sharp beak, break open the eggs and push them all out of the nest, then lay its own eggs.
-Not only are they killers, they also carry disease to crops and livestock.
-They thrive around small towns, big cities, and everywhere humans are "massed" together.
-It does not migrate.

See HERE for more information on Starlings and the dangers they present.
See HERE for excellent starling hunting methods.

English Sparrow
-It is actually a Weaver Finch, and is not a songbird.  Also known as the house sparrow.
-Like the Starling, it is NOT native to the America's.  It was introduced in the 1850's.
-It is sometimes difficult to identify.  The males have a black "tie", while the females look very similar to other sparrows.  The females have a slightly yellow "dash" on each side of it's head, above the eye.  It does not have any spots or speckles on it's breast.  
-Like the starling, it is not a cute, helpless bird.  Instead of killing nesting birds, the English Sparrow attacks and drives away bluebirds, chickadees, thrushes, wrens, robins and other songbirds, and then takes over the nest so it can lay its own eggs.
-It also is well known to carry disease to livestock and crops.  
-It also Thrives around big cities and small towns, but also thrives around livestock farms, where they feed off the livestock feed(which is where they introduce diseases), and nest in barns and hedges.
-It does not migrate

See HERE for more info on it as well as some identification tips.
For more identification tips, search google and google pics.

Feral Pidgeons
-Not as common as the English Sparrow or Starling.
-Easy to identify.
-Thrives in cities and towns.
-Carries many human diseases.
Do NOT feed the pidgeons!


Hunting Tips
-To my knowledge it is legal to hunt these birds in all 50 states, although check the state laws before hunting them.
-Invest in an accurate pellet gun.  Since these birds thrive in and around cities, it is often illegal to discharge a firearms in city limits.
-The best way I've found is to find a place close by a city or town that will give you permission to hunt.
-For English sparrow hunting, you can often take a drive around the country to both livestock and crop farms and offer your services to dispose of the pests.  Some farmers prefer you to use a shot gun or peletgun over a .22 or .17 HMR or HM2.
- Suit cakes work excellent for both starlings and english sparrows.
-I've found shotguns work best, but the .22 LR and both .17 rimfires are fun to use, as well as an accurate pelletgun.
-I followed the method here but use a bulletstop behind it since I hunt them near many homes.  Often you can nail a bait station to a large tree, or put it infront of a dirt pile or a hill.

Good luck, have fun, and be safe!

Oh, I thought you were going to show the picture of the mushroom cloud over Asia or something.

I ran over a sick chicken with my tractor today (didn't want to get my hands dirty)....I could have saved each and everyone of you.

Eat more beef!

Anyone ever used the toilet in an Arab country?

*Filth* is just the least of it.

I figured the English Sparrow was on the way to extinction because of eating all those dropped french fries at McDonalds.

Quoted: Anyone ever used the toilet in an Arab country?

Are you referring to the hole in the floor?
What is this "toilet" you speak of?

Quoted: Oh, I thought you were going to show the picture of the mushroom cloud over Asia or something.

Well, thats option #2...

in TX I think you can do anything to a sparrow, its nest, feathers, eggs, ets...

Texas code

§ 64.002.  PROTECTION OF NONGAME BIRDS.  (a)  Except as provided by this code, no person may: (1)  catch, kill, injure, pursue, or possess, dead or alive, or purchase, sell, expose for sale, transport, ship, or receive or deliver for transportation, a bird that is not a game bird; (2)  possess any part of the plumage, skin, or body of a bird that is not a game bird;  or (3)  disturb or destroy the eggs, nest, or young of a bird that is not a game bird. (b)  European starlings, English sparrows[0], and feral rock doves (Columba livia) may be killed at any time and their nests or eggs may be destroyed. (c)  A permit is not required to control yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer's blackbirds or all grackles, cowbirds, crows, or magpies when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes a health hazard or other nuisance. (d)  Canaries, parrots, and other exotic nongame birds may be sold, purchased, and kept as domestic pets. Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.   Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 202, ch. 95, § 2, eff. April 30, 1981;  Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 267, art. 3, § 110, eff. Sept. 1, 1985;  Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 610, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1256, § 92, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Quoted: Anyone ever used the toilet in an Arab country? *Filth* is just the least of it.

And this has exactly what to do with a FLU VIRUS that is spreading through BIRDS in ASIAN countries???

I swear, you bigoted shitheads get sicker every day.

Anyone tried hunting them yet?

Quoted: Anyone ever used the toilet in an Arab country? *Filth* is just the least of it.

Isn't that what gutters are for?

What about poison? Live & let die!

Originally Posted By chicken_little: How YOU can help prevent the bird flu.

Ok, am I the only one that sees the irony?

GM

ETA: Hey the thread came back from the dead< I might as well fix my spelling

Anyone surmise what it's going to do to duck hunting (international migratory birds) this season.

Are you, or your family, willing to take the risk it has crossed over to humans? Not me.

Seagulls are as much of a danger potential as pidgeons. They're crapping on people and cars along the seasides and Great Lakes all the time. And what about Canada geese that are REALLY a problem with their crapping all over piers and lake/pond shorelines.

If it's not a false alarm there's gonna be a lot of changes in lifestyle.

Also, try to avoid having sex with geese and chickens.

Quoted: Also, try to avoid having sex with geese and chickens.

You just ruined Friday nights for a significant number of ARFcommers.

Quoted: Originally Posted By chicken_little: How YOU can help prevent the bird flu.   Ok, I'm I the only one that sees the irony? GM

nope

Quoted: even simpler, after handling ANY birds or bird product, thouroughly wash your hands and gear. Cleanliness is 99.9% of stoping such things

But imagine the enormity of trying to wash every bird in the country. At least weekly...

all birds are evil and messengers of satan. i say kill them all now before they are allowed to translate their deseases to humans.

kill them all!

Dammit!   You guys are making a mockery of my inevitable death!  

I like to shoot starlings

I keep putting out seed in my bird feeders with no fear.

Maybe I'll be spared for my generousity

GM