FINLAND:Hundreds of dead birds

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   http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hundreds+of+dead+birds+cause+consternation+in+Turku+Archipelago/1135219822281

Hundreds of dead birds cause consternation in Turku Archipelago 
Mostly pigeons and lapwings; cause of death as yet unclear 

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Hundreds of dead birds have turned up on the small island of Jurmo, in the outer reaches of the Turku Archipelago. 
      The dead birds, which are predominantly wood pigeons and lapwings, began appearing around Easter. Also among the dead are around two dozen swans, but no other water birds appear to be affected, according to islanders. 
      The deaths are unprecedented, according to islanders, but as yet there is no certainty over the cause of the birds' demise: none of the dead birds have been taken to the mainland for analysis. 

The islanders have collected dozens of dead birds from their yards and gardens and have either incinerated them or buried them. 
      Thus far the corpses have not been sent anywhere for analysis, since the postal service has refused to accept them and the locals have had no opportunity to have them sent by courier for examination on the mainland. 
      Naturally, in a climate where avian influenza remains a hot topic, in spite of a lack of previous evidence that it has made landfall in Finland, the local population would very much like to know what it is that has caused the mass deaths of these birds. 
      It is quite possible that the birds have succumbed to something quite other than avian flu. According to statements from islanders, the birds were so weak prior to their deaths that they were unable to fly, and simply ran away from people as best they could. 

The first bodies began to appear around Easter, and in the last week or so no new carcasses have been found. 
      Many of the dead birds are nevertheless still to be seen where they died, including a large swan that is visible close to the guest harbour on the remote little island (see map). 
      Pirjo Mattsson says she has lived on Jurmo for 27 years but has never seen anything like this before. She claims to have counted 32 dead pigeons and lapwings already before Easter. 
      Bj�rn Lindstr�m, another resident, says he has incinerated 49 birds. He also offered a figure of 25 for the number of dead swans. The regional veterinary officer was supposed to come to inspect the dead birds, but could not get to the island because of the difficult spring ice conditions. 
      On Monday, Pauli Kuoppam�ki collected two fresh pigeon carcasses with a view to taking them for analysis. Kuoppam�ki said he would be taking them directly to the Finnish Food Safety Authority EVIRA for study. He expressed annoyance with the apparent indifference of the authorities to the matter. 
      According to the regional veterinary officer Tapio Manninen, the Finnish authorities are aware of the deaths of the pigeons and lapwings, but the news of the swans came as a surprise. Manninen believes the cause of death of the smaller birds is more likely to have been extreme cold earlier in the spring - when there were a number of very sharp night-frosts. Such deaths are by no means unheard of at this time of year. 

Previously in HS International Edition:
  No avian influenza found among migrating birds yet in Finland (3.5.2006) 
  Finns satisfied with preparations taken by officials for bird flu (4.4.2006) 

Links:
  EVIRA, Finnish Food Safety Authority 
  Turku Archipelago 

FINLAND:Hundreds of dead birds

Hundreds of dead birds cause consternation in Turku Archipelago

Mostly pigeons and lapwings; cause of death as yet unclear

Ministry was unaware of bird deaths

All bird carcasses found on island will be examined

I guess this is no suprise...

Dead birds in Turku archipelago did not fall victim to avian flu

More dead wood pigeons found on Jurmo island