A new avian health complex opens today 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 new climate-controlled aviary, which is located at 701 Farm Service Road in College Station, will provide a comfortable and safe environment for a variety of birds in various conditions, CVM officials note. The original complex was founded in 1987 with an endowment established by the late Richard M. Schubot and matching funds provided by the university. This commitment to avian medicine demonstrates Texas A&M’s understanding of the important role birds play in ecosystems and disease transmission across all species.
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.
“This is a beautiful facility that exemplifies the college’s commitment to exotic species and ?to conservation in general,” said Dr. Ian Tizard. “It enhances our programs in environmental health and will be a magnificent resource for the whole college.”
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 enlarged and enhanced facilities also provide space for specialized birds, such as raptors, for which the students can learn appropriate handling care, and treatment.