New information from NatureScot says the nation’s seabirds confronted a “difficult” summer time in consequence the virus, with auks, gulls and terns most affected.
Between 3 April and 1 October, there have been 9,610 stories of lifeless and sick wild birds from websites throughout Scotland, with the bulk coming from places alongside the east coast.
Mortalities started in June and reached a peak in mid-July when round 2,300 sick and lifeless birds have been reported in a two-week interval.
The species with the best variety of reported mortalities have been guillemot (3,519 birds) and kittiwake (3,367) adopted by black-headed gull (834), herring gull (371), razorbill (368), widespread tern (304), Sandwich tern (231), Arctic tern (89) and different gulls (125).
The remaining mortality sightings included 26 different species. With many seabirds already experiencing a number of pressures and inhabitants declines, work is ongoing to evaluate the influence of avian flu and higher perceive why some species have been more durable hit than others.
Guillemots, kittiwakes, and terns have skilled large losses at their breeding colonies this summer time.
On Forvie National Nature Reserve alone, almost half of this 12 months’s Sandwich, widespread and Arctic tern chicks perished.
A second spike in mortalities in guillemot and razorbill was recorded throughout the previous month, with carcasses washing up alongside east coast seashores and extra not too long ago on the north coast and Northern Isles.
These deaths look to be because of different causes, with no guillemots or razorbills testing constructive for HPAI since early August.
Interim autopsy outcomes of a lot of guillemots and razorbills point out doable hunger, however whether or not this was a secondary impact of another trigger will not be recognized.
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However, there have been only a few stories of deaths amongst nice skua and ganne flocks, two species which have been closely impacted by avian flu in summer time 2022.
Gannets might have developed immunity to the virus following publicity final summer time, with analysis underway to seek out out extra, however it’s not but recognized how long-lasting any such immunity is perhaps.
Populations are prone to take years to get well, with an estimated 20,000 seabirds perishing from avian flu in summer time 2022 along with the deaths this summer time.
Kittiwakes
RSPB Scotland have undertaken an enhanced programme of seabird monitoring this summer time. The outcomes will assist point out the extent of the influence on Scotland’s wild birds and are because of be printed early subsequent 12 months.
Early outcomes for nice skua, one of many species badly affected final 12 months, present a drastic inhabitants decline of the breeding inhabitants at Hermaness NNR of 78%.
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Scotland’s Avian Flu Task Force is now getting ready for wintering waterfowl, with mortality surveillance shifting from seabird colonies to areas with excessive numbers of wintering species akin to geese and swans.
Last winter, there have been mass mortalities in Greenland barnacle geese on Islay, mute swans in Central Scotland, and herring gulls within the Firth of Forth – however as now we have seen this summer time, the virus might be unpredictable, so vigilance for outbreaks in new species and places stays excessive.
Kittiwake chicks
Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change, mentioned: “With only a few nice skua and gannet deaths this summer time, we’re hopeful that some wild birds are building immunity to HPAI.
“But different species, akin to kittiwakes and terns that have been impacted final 12 months, have nonetheless been enormously affected this 12 months. The analysis we and our companions within the job drive are doing will assist us higher perceive why this is perhaps the case.
“Our collective focus now must be on ensuring we have positive measures in place to support the recovery of species impacted by the outbreak – species which are already facing many pressures on their survival.”
Claire Smith, RSPB Senior Policy officer, added: “Bird flu is a further menace to Scotland’s breeding seabirds on prime of many different pressures and it was devastating to see hundreds of lifeless birds once more this 12 months.
“Over 700 kittiwakes died at RSPB Fowlsheugh and surveys confirmed that gannet numbers at Troup Head have been down by 35% after being impacted by the virus in 2022.
“We will have a fuller picture of population impacts across Scotland later this year. This needs to be a wake-up call to step up the speed and scale of practical conservation actions to help our globally important seabird populations recover.”
