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Summary: While low pathogenic strains of avian influenza circulate naturally in wild waterfowl, the virus can rapidly mutate into a highly pathogenic form when it gets introduced to domestic poultry operations where birds are kept at high densities. Though the issue of avian influenza has been of greatest concern in Asia where the disease has caused large mortality events in wild waterfowl and several outbreaks in humans, the United States has also been confronted with avian influenza in both wild birds and domestic poultry. Of note, highly pathogenic avian influenza was recently detected at an exhibition farm in Newfoundland, Canada with subsequent detections in wild birds in North and South Carolina and Virginia in the Atlantic Flyway. The U.S. Geological Survey is uniquely integrated into the nation`s avian influenza response efforts and well-positioned to investigate the role of wild birds and the environment in the dynamics of avian influenza. USGS researchers across the country are assessing how the movement ecology of migratory waterfowl impacts the spread of avian influenza. This presentation will focus on lessons learned from previous research and ongoing efforts to understand the role of wild birds in the spread, persistence and amplification of avian influenza viruses and how we can evaluate risk of transmission across the wild waterfowl – domestic poultry interface.