1000’s of seabirds are dying this summer time throughout the UK because the Extremely Pathogenic Avian Influenza (“Avian Flu”) outbreak continues for a 3rd 12 months. Having suffered many years of declines, seabirds at the moment are being pushed to the brink because the virus devastates colonies of species that have been already recognised as needing pressing assist, together with crimson listed Kittiwakes and amber listed Guillemots and Tern species. The RSPB are calling for the governments of the UK to urgently publish their lengthy overdue Seabird Conservation Methods to deal with wider marine challenges and relieve the mounting stress on seabirds.
The RSPB has raised the alarm name for seabirds as Avian Flu continues to place many species in danger throughout the UK. 1000’s of seabirds are reported to have already died this summer time, with 21 of the UK’s 25 breeding seabird species now having examined constructive for the virus since 2021.
Persevering with into its third 12 months, Avian Flu has been tearing by way of seabird colonies across the UK with devastating results. Having suffered many years of declines, seabirds at the moment are being pushed to the brink because the virus devastates colonies of species that have been already recognised as needing pressing assist, together with crimson listed Kittiwakes and amber listed Guillemots and Tern species.
Frequent Tern, copyright Glyn Sellors, from the surfbirds galleries
Latest outbreaks alongside the East coast of Scotland, Wales, Northern Eire, the Midlands and Northern England are all inflicting grave concern. Throughout the RSPB’s nature reserves alone, thus far over 3000 birds have been recorded useless on account of the virus in 2023, including to the 17,000 fatalities reported throughout RSPB websites in 2022. Amongst them, earlier this 12 months 800 Black-headed Gulls have been discovered useless at RSPB St Aidan’s, close to Leeds, and 600 have been suspected to have died as a consequence of Avian Flu at RSPB Saltholme close to Middlesborough. In the meantime 20% of the breeding Black-headed Gull colony at Belfast Window on Wildlife have been additionally misplaced.
Whereas the entire dying toll is unknown, it’s estimated that tens of hundreds of birds have fallen sufferer to Avian Flu over the previous three years within the UK, with many massive outbreaks this 12 months going down each inland and alongside our shores.
Based on the RSPB, seabirds will battle to bounce again from the results of Avian Flu as rapidly as different species as they’re long-lived and gradual breeding. Some species can take as much as 5 years to begin breeding, after which solely produce 1 to 2 chicks a 12 months if they’re profitable. The affect of this ongoing outbreak on these populations will due to this fact be felt lengthy into the longer term.
As Jeff Knott, director of coverage and advocacy on the RSPB describes: “As an important indicator of the well being of our seas and marine habitats, seabirds are already feeling the impacts of the character and local weather emergency right here within the UK.
The extra stress of Avian Flu throughout the UK proper now’s a trigger for nice concern, because the cumulative three-year impact of this virus, on high of many years of declines amongst our seabirds, may probably be catastrophic for a few of our a lot beloved, and most in danger, species.”
Below immense stress from different challenges at sea, together with sandeel fishing, warming marine temperatures and entanglement with discarded fishing gear, seabirds face a cocktail of threats to their survival, the charity warns.
Jeff continues: “Our seabirds are in disaster, and this should be the second that our governments step as much as the problem of addressing wider marine pressures and subsequent seabird declines. There isn’t a time to waste, and so all 4 governments of the UK should urgently publish their lengthy overdue Seabird Conservation Plans to assist construct the resilience and long-term well being of our seabirds. With out strong measures to deal with these challenges, and with Avian Flu ripping throughout the UK as we communicate, our seabird colonies are being pushed to the brink.”
