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“Public participation enables us to identify disease outbreaks sooner and gain insights into their timing and location.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has unveiled an enhanced app designed to monitor avian health across the state, as announced on Thursday.
FWC reports that annually, birds across Florida fall victim to diseases like Avian Influenza, West Nile Virus, and Avian Pox. The updated avian mortality reporting app empowers users to share photographs and relevant details directly with FWC, facilitating the identification of mortality trends or new health threats.
“With help from the public, we can detect disease outbreaks earlier and better understand where and when they’re occurring,” emphasized Dr. Becky Hardman, wildlife health veterinarian at FWC. “Each report is crucial in protecting Florida’s bird populations and allows us to swiftly address potential health issues.”
The FWC outlines that app users are able to perform the following actions:
- Submit reports directly from a phone or computer using the interactive map.
- Upload photos to help biologists identify the species and evaluate possible causes.
- Select from silhouette guides if you’re unsure of the bird species.
- Provide detailed location information by moving a crosshair to the exact spot where the bird was found.
FWC published a demo of the app, which explains how users can photograph and document bird health.