Avian Influenza killing thousands of Black-headed Gulls

The BTO is urging members of the public to help track the spread of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) by reporting dead birds (https://bit.ly/43nxsoO). It follows reports of large numbers of dead Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus at inland and coastal breeding colonies. Dead birds can be reported through the BirdTrack app or to Defra.

More than 1,500 Black-headed Gulls are thought to have been killed by avian influenza at Marsh Land Nature Reserve, West Midlands, while around 800 have been reported dead at RSPB St Aidans, Yorkshire, and around 250 at Rutland Water, Leicestershire & Rutland.