200 Sandwich Terns, Black-Headed Seagulls Found Dead in Scotland Forest Reserve, Avian Flu Tests Underway

200 sandwich terns and some black-headed seagulls, among other birds, were discovered dead in a Scotland forest reserve, prompting avian flu tests.

Avian Flu Tests in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Following the finding of numerous dead birds, bird flu testing was conducted at a nature reserve in Aberdeenshire.

At Forvie National Nature Reserve, more than 200 sandwich terns and a handful of dead black-headed gulls were found dead, according to environmental agency NatureScot.

Though the virus' risk to human health is minimal, the agency still took samples for testing to determine whether it is avian flu.

Bird Population Decline

According to NatureScot, certain seabird species have returned to Scotland in much smaller numbers after an avian flu outbreak this past year.

Shetland's great skuas appeared to have taken much damage.

According to Grampian Online, colonies in Scotland have thus far avoided the high number of deaths seen last summer, despite recent worrying virus breakouts in England.

Early seabird colony monitoring, however, indicates that certain species have returned in noticeably lower numbers than in recent years.

Although counts are still being conducted, preliminary findings from some of the major Shetland sites indicate large breeding population decreases for great skua.

For instance, it is thought that up to 90% of the population of Hermaness has possibly perished.

Concerns have also been raised regarding terns' atypical behavior, with fewer birds than usual returning to Scotland's Isle of May and Noss National Nature Reserves (NNRs), as well as their return occurring later than anticipated.

Alastair MacGugan, a wildlife manager with NatureScot, claims that it is too early to assess the effects of the severe losses from the previous year, but the relatively small number of great skua and terns going back to the coastlines are undoubtedly alarming and something the agency keeping a very careful eye on.

Possible Immunity

The good news is that compared to last year, MacGugan claims there haven't been any instances of many dead birds near breeding grounds in Scotland.

This could imply that the remaining birds may have developed some kind of viral immunity.

If so, there is reason for hope because populations might start progressively replacing the losses from the previous year.

However, according to MacGugan, the battle is far from the final stretch of the outbreak, and people should not become complacent because the virus may one day spread to other species, as it has with gulls in other parts of the UK, Grampian Online reported.

The agency continues to collaborate with partners via the Scottish Task Force in an effort to ensure the best monitoring and guidance for land managers is put in place in light of the significant avian flu outbreak over the past two years.

The organization emphasized that people should refrain from handling ill or dead wild birds.

Additionally, officials advise people visiting coastal areas to put their pets on leashes to prevent them from picking up bird carcasses, the BBC News reported.