Bird flu now ‘one of many largest conservation threats’ dealing with seabirds

Chunky orange-capped gannets, sooty-hued nice skua, and svelte roseate terns are a number of the species we danger shedding from British seas and skies, as a hen flu pandemic continues to comb by colonies.

A brand new report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has, for the primary time, quantified the results of recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – generally referred to as hen flu – outbreaks on the UK’s seabirds populations. Of the 13 species included within the research, 9 have been experiencing inhabitants declines, with three of those straight attributable to the virus – and an extra two being probably attributable to the illness.

Many seabirds which roost on the British Isles are already in hassle. The RSPB says they face all kinds of threats, together with unsustainable fishing practices threatening their meals sources, being killed by invasive, non-native mammals, and local weather change and the warming seas it causes. But with hen flu wiping out tens of hundreds of birds because it turned established in 2022, the charity says it’s now rising as “one of many largest quick conservation threats confronted by a number of seabirds”.

The research, led by the RSPB in collaboration with different conservation organisations just like the British Trust for Ornithology, painted a extremely regarding image of widespread and intensive declines. Nine of the 13 species included within the report fell in numbers by greater than 10% since earlier surveys, made between 2015 and 2021. For gannets, nice skua and roseate terns, the declines have been capable of be largely attributed to hen flu, whereas it was decided to be the seemingly trigger for sandwich and customary tern numbers falling.

It could also be impacting the the remaining species – the arctic skua, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, nice black-backed gull, kittiwake, arctic tern and guillemot – too, however the RSPB mentioned additional work was wanted to raised perceive the half it performed of their declines.

The charity’s conservation director, Katie-jo Luxton, mentioned: “With its rugged coastline and myriad of small offshore islands, the UK is globally important for seabirds. However, for decades we have not looked after these natural treasures and our seabird populations have dramatically declined because of our actions.”

Invasive predators have been introduced to islands, which destroy nests and chicks, and the mounting effects of climate change were impacting the availability of their food, she said. “This new study shows that bird flu can be added to the long list of things that are devastating our seabirds.”

But Ms Luxton said it hadn’t all been bad news for seabirds recently, which showed that tangible conservation action could help vulnerable species endure in the face of new threats. “We know that conservation efforts and smart policies such as the recent sandeel [fishing ban] announcement, do work and help increase the resilience of our seabirds to better weather whatever new storm is on the horizon.”

She continued: “But we need our governments to implement these efforts and plan for a future where our seabirds are part of a thriving marine environment.”