Refuge Biologist Frank Durbian, and Refuge volunteers Nate Petersen and Brian Lomas, spent the first week of August in northern Wisconsin training a crew from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in monitoring Avian Influenza.  They alsoassisted in trapping shorebirds as part of the regional and national efforts to monitor the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza. 

With the difficult job complete of wading through mud, fighting off mosquitos and high humidity the group were recognized for their assistance.  This same refuge crew also assisted several Missouri Department of Conservation employees sampling shorebirds on Squaw Creek as well.