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In Might, we reported the devastating impression of avian influenza or ‘hen flu’ in breeding Black-headed Gull colonies close to Coventry, Leicester and Leeds. Mortalities have greater than doubled for this species within the final month, and in whole, it’s estimated that at the very least 10,000 Black-headed Gulls have died for the reason that finish of March.
Though solely a comparatively small proportion of useless birds is examined for avian influenza, present sampling means that very massive numbers of Black-headed Gulls are contaminated.
Instances proceed to unfold, with infections rising in Northern Eire in addition to extra broadly throughout England. In Belfast Harbour, the RSPB Home windows on Wildlife reserve suspects at the very least 200 Black-headed Gulls have died on the positioning on account of avian influenza within the final two weeks alone.
The illness can be crossing into different colonial species similar to Widespread Terns, which regularly breed in shut proximity to Black-headed Gulls. Sadly, there have now been stories of this species being affected by avian influenza at websites from Norfolk to County Antrim.
The unfold of avian influenza by way of inland colonies of Black-headed Gulls and Widespread Terns represents the subsequent part of the battle towards this virus that devastated so lots of our coastal and offshore seabird colonies final yr.Prof. James Pearce-Higgins, BTO Director of Science
40% of the 800 breeding Widespread Terns at Shotton Steelworks in North Wales are thought to have died from avian influenza, together with half of the 400 that breed at close by Seaforth Nature Reserve. The numbers are nonetheless low compared to these of suspected avian influenza mortality in Black-headed Gulls, however there’s potential for extreme losses for Widespread Terns within the close to future.
Each Black-headed Gulls and Widespread Terns are included on the Amber Record of Birds of Conservation Concern, as a result of inhabitants declines and vary contractions. The long-term impression of avian influenza on these threatened populations is not going to be identified for a while but.
How one can assist
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Don’t contact useless or sick birds
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Maintain canine on results in stop them from discovering and choosing up useless birds
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Clear hen feeders and hen baths frequently
Study extra about avian influenza
Extra info on the present outbreak, how BTO is responding, and what you are able to do to assist, might be discovered on our devoted Avian Influenza web page.
We’re solely capable of observe the unfold of avian influenza with the assistance of birdwatchers who submit their sightings, supporting the efforts of web site managers and reserve wardens.Prof. James Pearce-Higgins, BTO Director of Science
Report useless and sick birds
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File within the BirdTrack app. This permits researchers to comply with the illness’s geographical unfold and quickly assess potential impacts on populations.
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Report back to Defra (England, Wales and Scotland) or DAERA (Northern Eire), in order that if wanted, useless birds might be collected for testing.
Monitor your native Black-headed Gull colony
There are a number of vacant websites for monitoring Black-headed Gulls as a part of the Seabird Monitoring Programme.
“Black-headed Gulls breeding at upland reservoirs seem like badly affected in the intervening time, so we urge birdwatchers to take a look at breeding websites they could know of and report any deaths.”
Daybreak Balmer, BTO Head of Surveys
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