A new avian health complex has been formally opened at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). The new climate-controlled aviary will provide a comfortable and safe environment for a variety of birds in various conditions, CVM officials said.
The facility has approximately 11,000 square feet of floor space and includes a functional hospital; receiving area with quarantine capabilities; three isolation rooms; a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory for infectious disease research and separate areas for infected and healthy birds, along with teaching, classroom, and office space.
The center will conduct research into all aspects of diseases in wild and captive birds, as well as avian genetics, genomics, nutrition, and behavior. The results of research at the center are already being applied to improve the health of birds kept by zoos, aviculturists, and individual pet owners, as well as conserving threatened avian species in the wild.
The new center provides better teaching facilities, not only for undergraduates and veterinary medical students, but also for continuing education and other courses – all the while promoting an understanding of avian diseases, husbandry, and conservation among current and future veterinarians. The facilities also provide space for specialised birds, such as raptors, for which the students can learn appropriate handling, care, and treatment.
