With thanks to Suzanne McIntyre, Nature Reserve Manager at Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve, who has let us know that they have received confirmation that Avian flu has been identified in the wild bird population on the Solway.

They have notices regarding this at all entrances to the reserve, and reserve staff are carrying out monitoring and reporting on the reserve.

Below is a summary of advice to the public form the Scottish Government website, although they are covering reporting on the reserve itself, this may be useful if anyone finds dead or sickly birds elsewhere:

We have had a report of lots of dead birds (mainly barnacle geese, whooper swans) around the Solway.  The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have identified the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1.  Public health advice is that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers, and that cooked poultry products, including eggs are safe to eat.

Wild birds can carry several diseases that are infectious to people, so do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find.

If you find a single dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks), a single dead bird of prey, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species (including gulls) at the same place at the same time, you should report them to Defra’s national telephone helpline: 03459 33 55 77 (please select option 7).

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been in place across all of GB since 3 November, which applies mandatory biosecurity measures on all kept birds, including commercial and backyard poultry.  General information on avian influenza can be found on www.Gov.scot/avianinfluenza.  The latest Scot-Government update on AI can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-outbreaks/

A recent update also asked that you keep your dogs under close control, so that they don’t come into contact with any dead or sickly birds.

Please share this information to others who are likely to be out and about around the Solway.