Whelp, its like this: I sent this out on an eMail 10 Jun 05.
According to reports filed by Chinese authorities with the OIE (an intergovernmental organization created by the International Agreement of 25 January 1924, signed by 28 countries. As of May 2004, the OIE totaled 167 Member Countries) - http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm - the following animal deaths were reported as being linked to H5N1 influenza virus in and around the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve in Gangcha County (China):
Apr 15 estimated date of initial onset of epizootic
May 4 dead spot headed geese 150
May 7 dead spot headed geese 178
May 21 dead spot headed geese 519
May 27 dead spot headed geese >1000
June 2 report of animal deaths:
spot headed geese 5412
brown headed gulls 641
cormorants 1151
fishing gulls 1064
red beaked diving ducks 121
red feet ducks 34
ring neck birds 23
swallow gulls 12
white-headed crane 6
Phoenix headed bird 11
black neck crane 2
raincoat feather crane 1
wolf 3
fox 2
badger dog 6
desert (wild) ca 11
domestic cattle 153
domestic sheep 84
domestic chicken 413
domestic dog 68
Detailed photos of the area -
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2005/06/200506032331.shtml - suggest that the above numbers are low by at least one order of magnitude. Photos show that as far as they can see literally thousands of (if not 10's of) birds, no more than 5 are standing (if that). Most that are not standing appear to be either already dead or very near death. There are no birds in the air. In longer distance shots there appear to be thousands of birds on the ground and none in the air. All photos are from China's official news outlet..