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untrained peregrines showed no other significant change,untrained Harris’s hawks had a significant leukopenialymphopaenia and eosinopaenia. Trained Harris’s hawksshowed a significant monocytosis, whereas trained peregrinesshowed no significant change. Transport had noapparent influence on heterophil or lymphocyte morphology.Although the difference between pre- and posttransportwas significant in some parameters, all values in the4 groups remained within the reference ranges for thespecies. Therefore, we can conclude that 1-hour transportfor trained or untrained members of these 2 species toa clinic need not be factor that requires the clinician’sconsideration when interpreting a haematological sample.However, the 2 species reacted differently to transport.Further studies on other species are suggested. The H/Lratio is proposed as the most sensitive measure of stressresponse in the blood picture of raptors and possible usesare suggested.Samour, J. H., Naldo, J. L., John, S. K. (2001) Stainingcharacteristics of the eosinophil in the saker falcon.Exotic DVM 3, No.4, p.10The differentiation of eosinophils is one of the most difficulttasks encountered during hematology analysis inavian species, but in particular in birds of prey.1 In addition,the eosinophils and heterophils share many morphologicalcharacteristics2-6 making differentiation betweenthem challenging.5-7 These difficulties can be overcomeby the adequate staining of these cells and by becomingaware of the relevant differences of the normal morphologyof heterophils and eosinophils in the different avianspecies. During routine hematology analysis of samplesfrom saker falcons it was found that the stainingof granules of eosinophils using May GrünwaldGiemsa stain was not satisfactory. After some trialsinvolving different stains, timings, concentrationsand buffers, the best results were obtained using amodified Wright’s-Giemsa stain. The modificationto the Wright’s-Giemsa stain consisted of adding5.0ml of glycerol and including step number fourto the staining procedure. Diff-Quick or similarstains are not recommended for routine hematologyanalysis because these techniques tend to rupturethe granules of the granulocytes. The use of themodified Wright’s-Giemsa stain as described canprobably be applied to other avian species in whichcell differentiation has proved difficult.falcon died 9 days after the challenge, with typical lesionsof herpesvirus inclusion body hepatitis. The 3 vaccinatedfalcons seroconverted and did not show any symptoms.Following the challenge, their antibody titres to falconherpesvirus increased. No herpesvirus was isolated fromany of the cloacal swabs taken during this experiment,indicating that there was no danger for any other birdsfrom DuFaHe. This experiment shows that falcons canbe protected from herpesvirus infection by an attenuatedherpesvirus vaccine. However, it should be stressed thatonly 4 falcons were used for this experiment.Conference announcement6th World Conferenceon Birds of Prey and OwlsBudapestHUNGARY18-25 May 2003Deadline for abstract submissions 1 March 2003For further information contact:World Working Group on Birds of PreyP.O. Box 52, Towcester, NN12 7ZW, EnglandTel/Fax +44 1604 862331Email: WWGBP@aol.com or robin.chancellor@virgin.netWernery, U., Joseph, S., Kinne, J. (2001) Anattenuated herpes vaccine may protect Gyrhybrids from fatal inclusion body hepatitis.A preliminary report. Journal of VeterinaryMedicine. Series B, 48, No.10, pp.727-732Four Gyrfalcon hybrids were used for this falconherpes vaccine trial. Three falcons were given 1ml of an attenuated falcon herpesvirus vaccine(DuFaHe) subcutaneously twice within 14 days,whereas the fourth falcon was used as a control. 18days after the booster vaccination, all 4 Gyr hybridswereintranasally and ocularly challenged with a virulentlow- passage falcon herpesvirus. The controlGyr/Saker26