A new avian health complex will be formally opened Thursday, August 13, 2015, at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), which hosts one of the top avian medicine programs in the nation. The ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. The new climate-controlled aviary will provide an environment for a variety of birds in various conditions, CVM officials note. Containing approximately 11,000 square feet of floor space, the state-of-the-art complex 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 conducts 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, according to Texas A&M. Courtesy Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences Inside the new Avian Health Complex at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “This is a beautiful facility that exemplifies the college’s commitment to exotic species and to conservation in general,” said Dr. Ian Tizard, director of the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center. “It enhances our programs in environmental health and will be a magnificent resource for the whole college.” The new center provides teaching facilities not only for undergraduates and veterinary medical students, but also for continuing education and other courses. It wants to promote a better understanding of avian diseases, husbandry and conservation among current and future veterinarians. The enlarged and enhanced facilities also provide space for specialized birds, such as raptors, for which the students can learn appropriate handling, care and treatment. Courtesy Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences The Avian Health Complex will provide a place for students and veterinarians to study avian diseases, husbandry and conservation. “Our faculty have made substantial contributions to the health and welfare of birds and to the avian industry in terms of educating future and current veterinarians,” said Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “As leaders in avian medicine, we train the next generation of veterinarians and scientists to continue this important mission. This facility provides the laboratory, avian housing, and classroom space that will allow this program to continue to thrive.”
