This page is dedicated to "Citizen Science," offering opportunities for interested individuals to get involved with research taking place at UTMB. 

Gulf Coast Avian Surveillance Project

Scientists nationwide are monitoring the emergence of H5N1, a bird flu that has recently been discovered in poultry, dairy cattle, barn cats and even seals. A few cases of human H5N1 have also been reported.  On Galveston Island, while we do not have poultry or dairy farms, we do have a huge wild bird population. Our goal with the Gulf Coast Avian Surveillance Project is to monitor birds on the island to determine the presence of H5N1 in our local bird population.

FOCUS 1 -  Monitoring the Grackles

Grackles are the ever-present blackbirds that are seen all over the island. They love to congregate in grocery store parking lots and are often the unwanted visitors at outdoor island eateries.  One way of monitoring the health of the Grackles is by collecting and testing dead birds. There are three ways you can help: 

1. If you see a dead bird, contact UTMB using this form and one of our team will pick up the bird.
2. Contact Galveston Animal Control to request pick-up of the bird.
3. Follow the instructions in the video to the right to safely pick up the bird, and then contact either UTMB or Animal Control.