NEWCASTLE WORRIES BIRD OWNERS LIMIT ACCESS TO AVIARIES.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Outreach programs involving exotic birds have had their wings clipped because exotic Newcastle disease, an infectious and deadly illness, is currently ravaging its way through the bird populations of California and Arizona.

Students who hope to get a close-up look at red-tailed hawks from the Placerita Nature Center will see a preserved specimen instead.

The center's feathered occupants - two red-tailed hawks, two horned owls, one barn owl and one American kestrel - are receiving visitors, but at a long wing's-length to protect the birds. The center's outdoor aviary is now surrounded by a barrier that keeps people six to 10 feet away from the birds. While Newcastle is devastating to birds, it is not a threat to humans.

Fourteen counties in California have been quarantined by the Department of Food and Agriculture because of the disease. The center, which used to be a haven for injured or ill birds, is no longer accepting them.

``We will continue to do outreach programs, but will take along taxidermied birds instead of the live ones,'' said Ian Swift, biologist at the center.

``We do about 10 programs a week, between our in-house and outreach programs. With the spring, we're anticipating that we will have several more, but we won't be using the live birds until we get a clearance from the county health department, the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Agriculture.''

Guests at Six Flags California's Magic Mountain can still enjoy the exotic bird shows, but post-performance photos with guests have been eliminated to shelter the birds from infection.

``We will continue to offer the bird shows in the park, but our Animal Chatter outreach program has been temporarily curtailed,'' said park spokesman Andy Gallardo.

Exotic Newcastle disease has killed 4 million birds in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Ventura counties, according to Jami Kennedy, owner of Golden Oak Aviaries. Kennedy serves as the Southern California state coordinator of the American Federation of Aviculturists, a nationwide organizations of bird dealers and owners.

The group was formed as a watchdog organization after the previous outbreak of Newcastle, in 1974. Kennedy said that during that infestation, U.S. Department of Fish and Game officials were euthanizing birds on the owner's property even if the disease was only suspected. The AFA helped form a task force that works out of the University of California, Davis, to deal with the current outbreak, which is being handled much differently.

What frightens her is that state Department of Agriculture officials feel that the epidemic has yet to peak. She is vigilant in protecting the 250 birds on her property, which is filled with Amazon and African gray parrots, macaws and cockatoos.

``It's just horrible what this disease is doing,'' she said. ``I cannot imagine anyone coming onto my property. We've been extremely cautious and don't allow anyone who has birds onto our property. If they want products, we will bring it out to them.''

Exotic Newcastle disease is carried in the feces and body fluids of all birds and can be avoided by adhering to strict sanitation in aviaries. Bird owners are cautioned to be especially aware of migrating waterfowl and parrots that can carry the disease without showing clinical signs.

Symptoms include sneezing, coughing and gasping for air; nasal discharge; greenish, watery diarrhea; depression, muscular tremors, drooping wings, twisting of the head or neck; drop in egg production and thin-shelled eggs, swelling around the eyes and neck or sudden death.

Anyone finding a sick or dead bird is cautioned to leave the bird where it is so agriculture officials can disinfect the area. Shoes and clothing should also be cleaned thoroughly. Further information is available by calling the Newcastle disease hotline at [phone].

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Photo:

(color) At the Placerita Nature Center, tape keeps visitors from close contact with the center's birds because of Newcastle fears.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer