Thousands of seabirds are dying across the UK as Avian Flu tears through breeding colonies for the third consecutive year. Many of the species were already in decline, now they’re being pushed to the brink.
The RSPB’s latest findings show that thousands of seabirds have already died this summer in the UK because of outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or Avian Flu. Breeding colonies are being hit all along the East coast of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and across England. At RSPB nature reserves, so far more than 4,500 birds have been recorded dead in 2023, adding to the 17,000 deaths reported across RSPB sites in 2022.
The total death toll for the whole of the UK is unknown, but it’s estimated that tens of thousands of birds have fallen victim to this strain of Avian Flu since this strain arrived here three years ago. The virus continues to change, too: there's a different dominant strain in the UK this summer, compared to last year. It is well-adapted to gulls. Its impacts were first felt in the Midlands in March, and then it spread.
The virus is the latest blow to seabirds. 21 of the UK’s 25 breeding species having tested positive for the virus since 2021. Among them are colonies of species that were already in decline, including Red-listed Kittiwakes and Amber-listed Guillemots and terns.
Amber-listed Black-headed Gulls have been badly hit this summer, with 30,000 suspected of dying from the virus – that’s 10% of the UK’s breeding population. Some of these deaths have been on RSPB reserves including St Aidan’s, near Leeds, where 800 have been found dead.
Another 600 were suspected to have died of the virus at RSPB Saltholme near Middlesborough, and 270 at Wallasea in Essex. At Belfast Window on Wildlife, 20% of the breeding Black-headed Gull colony, more than 300 birds, have been lost, and over 30 Common Terns have also died there.
Sadly, some other reserves are being hit for the second year in a row. More than 700 adult Kittiwakes have been recorded dead at Fowlsheugh, and many more dead chicks.
Approximately 5,000 Black-headed Gulls on Coquet Island were found dead, with Common and Arctic Terns also affected. Although Sandwich Terns appear to be unaffected on Coquet Island this year, the number of birds returning to breed has halved.
Away from RSPB reserves, terns, Guillemots and Kittiwakes have been affected in Pembrokeshire, Anglesey and along the East Coast of Scotland. Thousands of dead birds have been washed up on beaches.
Because seabirds are long-lived and slow breeders, they’ll struggle to bounce back from the effects of Avian Flu as quickly as other species. Some seabirds can take up to five years to start breeding, and then only produce one to two chicks a year if they’re successful. This means that the impact of this ongoing outbreak will be felt long into the future.
Even without Avian Flu, our seabirds are under immense pressure from other challenges at sea, including sandeel fishing, warming marine temperatures and entanglement with discarded fishing gear.
Jeff Knott, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the RSPB said: “As a vital indicator of the health of our seas and marine habitats, seabirds are already feeling the impacts of the nature and climate emergency here in the UK.
“The additional pressure of Avian Flu across the UK right now is a cause for great concern, as the cumulative three-year effect of this virus, on top of decades of declines amongst our seabirds, could potentially be catastrophic for some of our much loved, and most at risk, species.”
If we’re going to see our seabird populations recover, we need action from the UK’s Governments now. We’re calling for them to urgently publish their long overdue Seabird Conservation Strategies to address the wider challenges they face.
Jeff said: “Our seabirds are in crisis, and this must be the moment that our governments step up to the challenge of addressing wider marine pressures and subsequent seabird declines. There is no time to waste, and so all four governments of the UK must urgently publish their long overdue Seabird Conservation Plans to help build the resilience and long-term health of our seabirds. Without robust measures to address these challenges, and with Avian Flu ripping across the UK as we speak, our seabird colonies are being pushed to the brink."
Our teams are working hard to monitor the continued impacts and progress of the disease. This includes a programme of seabird monitoring and other research to understanding the long-term impacts. We’re calling on decision-makers to step up conservation measures for birds.
Firstly, do not touch any sick or dead birds. If you are walking with your dog, keep it away from infected birds.
If you know the species, please ALSO report dead wild birds on BirdTrack to help assess the impacts on that species’ population.
Defra/DAERA are testing some of the birds that are reported for Avian Flu. They are unable to test all of them. If the bird(s) are on an RSPB reserve, please also inform the reserve staff.
While our seabirds have been badly hit, the virus also affects other wild birds and animals in the UK. The risk to people remains low, but for the latest information on what to do if you find a sick bird, as well more about the virus and how it is transmitted, click the link below.
Find out more about Avian Flu.
