WASHINGTON – As part of U.S. Department of Agriculture efforts to educate backyard poultry owners about what they can do to protect their birds against infectious poultry diseases such as avian influenza, it is offering free informational calendars for 2008.

The calendars feature full-color photos of poultry and other birds each month, and contain useful information about protecting poultry from AI, including tips on what to do should poultry owners suspect their birds are infected.

Those interested in receiving this free calendar can go to www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/resources.html and click on “2008 Backyard Biosecurity Calendar.”