MOST of us, at some time in our lives, have refused to believe something we don’t want to believe despite considerable evidence that it is true. Such denial is understandable; the truth can be painful. But there are times when denial can also be dangerous. The reluctance of some ornithologists, conservationists and other members of the birding community to accept the role of wild birds in spreading H5N1 bird flu is a striking example.
Since I wrote in this magazine some eight months ago that wild birds appeared to be carrying the H5N1 flu virus, I have received dozens of…
