Uganda Field Operation, Fall 1968 
Work in Egypt and Cyprus demonstrated that migrating birds can trans¬ 
port arbovirus between continents. In an attempt to follow the migrants 
farther south to their winter quarters, a PMS field team consisting of the 
Hubbards and an Egyptian assistant, went to the East African Virus Research 
Institute in Entebbe, Uganda for three weeks in October 1968 to conduct 
serological and ectoparasite survey of the Palearctic migrants in the area. 
From October 4 through October 25 birds were netted daily from sun¬ 
rise to sundown on Lunyo Estate, on the outskirts of Entebbe. The netting 
area was a 25 acre tract of cut-over tropical evergreen forest. Most of 
the larger trees had been removed, but a pproximately ten per cent of the 
area was still covered with trees 30 to 60 feet high. The rest of the 
forest was dense second-growth up to 30 feet high. The Lunyo forest is 
bordered by a grass and papyrus marsh on one side, pastureland on two 
others sides, and forest on the fourth. From 10 to 35 nets were used and 
checked every half hour. Birds were examined twice daily. Those not need¬ 
ed for laboratory work were identified, aged, sexed, examined for ticks, 
marked by wing clipping, and released. Other birds were taken to the Virus 
Research Institute for bleeding and specimen preparation. 
In three weeks of netting,627 birds of 78 species (another 16 species 
were observed in the area) were captured. Of these, 248 birds of 44 species 
were bled. This included 114 weavers and their allies (15 species), and 
120 Palearctic migrants and related African warblers, flycatchers, and 
thrushes (24 species). Only 46 Palearctic migrants of 6 species were cap¬ 
tured and bled. ( 9 Musoicapa striata^ 2 Fhyltosoopus tvochiluSy 1 
Hippolais icterina^ 33 Sylvia hovin^ 1 Acvocephalus soivpaoeus and 1 
Lanius oollurio) . All birds were negative for ticks. 
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