Adam visits Banffshire seabird colony hit hard by avian flu
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THE ongoing avian flu outbreak in the north-east was put into focus for when she visited a Banffshire seabird colony which has been ravaged by the disease.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam recently visited the colony at Troup Head where, acording to the RSPB, some 3000 gannets have died this breeding season, with guillemots and other seabirds also affected. This represents a significant proportion of the gannet colony overall and will not only have an impact this year but for many years to come.
Accompanied by local councillor Ross Cassie, the MSP was briefed on the current avian flu situation by RSPB experts who hosted her visit.
The avian flu causing the devastation is part of a worldwide outbreak, hitting poultry and wild bird populations, with literally thousands of incidences reported in dozens of countries. It was first seen in wild birds in Scotland in summer 2021 but has spread subsequently. Although avian flu has been detected in the British Isles before, mostly in domestic poultry farms, the RSPB says the scale of the current outbreak is unprecedented.
In the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency, the most obvious effect for the public has been dead gannets and other birds washing up on beaches and foreshores, all along the coast.
Ms Adam said: “Although the official advice says the chance of people or pets catching the disease from dead seabirds is low, it’s really not worth the risk.
"It’s not a good idea for you, your children or your dog to touch any dead birds you see.
“Instead, if you find three dead wild waterfowl like swans, geese or ducks, a single dead bird of prey, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species – including gannets or gulls – at the same place at the same time, you should report them to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs telephone helpline.”
The helpline number is 03459 33 55 77.
Ms Adam added: “Troup Head is a amazing site, the biggest mainland gannet colony in Scotland and the cliff top scenery is spectacular.
2The stars of the show here are definitely the gannets and the death of so many of them already this year is terrible news.
“This is an international outbreak however and tackling it will require a joint effort which is why cooperation with our partners in Europe and beyond – and with key international organisations – is so important in the face of a challenge like this one.”
For more information on avian flu and how the public can help, visit the RSPB avian flu web page at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates/ or the Scottish Government avian flu web page at https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-outbreaks/
