RSPB Troup Head's gannet colony under threat from HPAI avian flu
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GANNET deaths have been reported at Troup Head, by Gamrie, as bird flu deaths rise nationally.
The RSPB has confirmed that sick and dead gannets have been found at their reserve at Troup Head, one of the UK's gannet hotspots.
Dr Paul Walton, Head of Species and Habitats for RSPB Scotland, said: “Scotland’s seabirds are already facing multiple severe pressures generated by people – climate change, prey fish shortages, invasive species brought to islands, mortality in fishing gear and poorly sited wind turbines.
"These populations have halved since the 1980s.
"Now HPAI, a highly mutable and deadly new form of avian influenza, which originated in poultry, is killing our wild seabirds in large numbers.
"We urge the Scottish Government and NatureScot to develop a response plan urgently – to coordinate surveillance and testing, disturbance minimisation, carcass disposal and biosecurity.
“In the longer term, we urge much higher importance be given to prioritising and funding a national programme of seabird conservation, so we build resilience in these precious populations to the pressures that we have put them under.”
Skaus, which are also present at Troup Head, have also been particularly affected by bird flu.
The slew of dead gannets and skuas could seriously affect the global population of gannets and great skuas, as Scotland has 60 per cent of the world’s population of breeding great skuas and 46 per cent of breeding gannets.
Around 5 million seabirds return to Scotland’s islands and coastlines each spring to breed.
The news of death and illness at Troup Head comes as other parts of the UK are experiencing difficulties with HPAI.
Shetland appears most heavily affected by the blight, but other areas including the Scottish Borders, Orkney, the Western Isles, the Mull of Galloway and St Kilda have struggled.
Last year, HPAI was responsible for the loss of more than one third of the Svalbard barnacle goose population that winters by the Solway estuary.
There have been reports of widespread deaths at great skua (bonxie) colonies in Shetland, Fair Isle, Orkney, the Western Isles, Handa, the Flannan Isles and St Kilda.
There are also reports of high mortality in Sandwich and Arctic terns and elevated numbers of dead guillemots at a colony on the Mull of Galloway.
Many people living in areas affected are facing the impacts daily, as they walk past the corpses of seabirds lying on beaches.
Seabirds are long-lived, take longer to reach breeding age and tend to produce fewer offspring than geese meaning impacts of high adult mortality on future numbers could be much more significant and any recovery take far longer.
Stewart Bain, RSPB Scotland communications and events officer, said: “The number of dead birds along our coastlines is heart-breaking to see and the range of affected species is causing much concern in the community.
"As we head into summer, more and more people will have first-hand experience of the devastation this virus is causing.
"There is a sense locally that people feel helpless, but there are things you can do.
"Safety remains paramount and you should avoid contact with any dead or dying birds, but please report them to the DEFRA helpline.
"This will help give a clearer picture of the situation and inform how it is dealt with.
"You can also try to be even more careful than normal about not disturbing nesting or birds.”
RSPB Scotland have suggested plans to deal with the HPAI crisis.
An RSPB Scotland spokesperson said: "We are calling on Scottish Government and NatureScot to develop a national Response Plan for HPAI in wild birds – including immediate measures that could be taken in the current situation, in addition to longer term measures.
"Specifically, the plan should include: better and more co-ordinated surveillance and monitoring; clarity on carcass collection, testing and disposal; biosecurity measures for workers, staff and visitors in and around HPAI outbreaks, for example foot baths; and the minimisation of disturbance during localised HPAI outbreaks in wild birds to minimise stress on sick birds.
"These may require temporary restrictions on hunting and improving interfaces between any future Wild Bird Response HPAI Plan and arrangements for domestic birds including Surveillance and Protection Zones.
"This could be delivered via species measures in the next Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (due this year) and Seabird Conservation Strategy."
If you come across dead or sick birds, do not touch them.
Instead, please report them as soon as possible to the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.
