More than 1,000 doves in St. Sophia Square, the well-known landmark of Harbin, Heilongjiang, have been vaccinated against bird flu as more birds began flying northward, according to staff with the square.

To prevent H5N1 bird flu from spreading during the birds' annual migration, employees working at the square have, since early last week, injected the birds with the vaccine.

To date, all the doves staying in and near the square have been vaccinated against the flu, the square's staff said.

(Harbin Daily)