Bass Rock’s population of Northern Gannets – the biggest nest on the planet – is revealing indications of healing after it was ravaged by bird influenza in 2015.
Thousands of birds passed away in 2022 at the popular website off the Lothian coast after the infection spread though the nest throughout the breeding season. However, there are already indications of a much-improved breeding season this year.
Bass Rock is home to the world’s biggest nest of Northern Gannets (Mike McKenzie).
A recent research study discovered the adult birds’ survival in between 2021 and 2022 was 42% lower than the preceding 10-year average since of bird influenza.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh are performing a population quote utilizing drones and expert system to count numbers – and staff at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick are positive that when the existing study is total, numbers will have recuperated considerably.
Maggie Sheddan, a volunteer at the centre for more than twenty years, said that in locations where there were pockets of simply 2 or 3 birds in 2015, there were now “most likely 100 to 200”.
“What we are seeing now is what appears like a healthy nest. It will be truly interesting to see how it settles and turns out, ” she said.
