Bird Flu Update April 2023 – The View from Grassholm

Warning: this blog contains images of dead birds

In my last blog, I wrote about the hugely important survey work we’re carrying out this year to quantify the impact of the 2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak on the numbers of UK seabirds returning to breed in 2023. That work is now underway, which means our seabirds are currently returning, and we’re monitoring their arrival with bated breath. 

So far this year, we haven’t had any outbreaks in seabirds in Scotland, where we saw the first signs around this time in 2022, but we are sadly seeing significant outbreaks among Black-headed Gulls at several of our sites across England, including Middleton Lakes, St. Aidan’s, Dearne Valley and Fairburn Ings. This reflects large losses of this species across Europe over the past few months, following the emergence of a genotype that is particularly impacting gulls. Several birds have also recently tested positive on the Farnes.  

I decided to check in with Greg Morgan, Site Manager for Ramsey Island and Grassholm Island in Wales, to see what the experience was on Grassholm last year and how he’s feeling about this year’s season. 

First, some background. Grassholm is the oldest RSPB reserve in Wales. Gannets first bred there in the late 1800s and the RSPB took over the site in 1947. Our work at the site has been chiefly one of protection and research. Pre-HPAI, Grassholm was the 3rd largest colony in the world for Northern Gannet, representing just under 10% of the world population. There are no public landings due to the disturbance this would cause, but people can enjoy the spectacle from one of the many boat trips that circumnavigate the island during summer.  

Northern Gannet © Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

In 2022, following the avian flu outbreak further north in the UK, Greg and the team felt it was only a matter of time before the virus reached Grassholm, and sadly they were right. The first cases were discovered in July 2022 and by mid-to-late August it was clear they were in the midst of a severe outbreak. Thousands of birds were dying on the island, being washed out to sea or ending up on mainland beaches. It was distressing for the team to see such a devastating impact on such a wide scale and very frustrating as there was little they could do. Staff collected data as best they could, from sending samples to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for testing to monitoring the spread of the disease through drone footage. Research came to a halt as all landings were stopped to prevent disturbance and disease spread and to protect staff. The team now realises how important it is to continue with some research if we are to learn more about the disease, provided this is done safely. 

Northern Gannets killed by avian flu © Ashley Cooper (rspb-images.com)

Understandably, Greg and the team have entered the 2023 breeding season with trepidation. The number of Gannets that have returned to Grassholm so far is well down on a normal year, but that is to be expected with so many deaths last year and such catastrophic disruption to what is a highly sociable species. As we reach the end of April, Greg would be expecting the birds to be laying around now, but there are large gaps in the colony and not all birds that are present have even settled yet.  

Grassholm Northern Gannet Colony 7 April 2023 © Richardson Media 

The team also spotted Gannets with black eyes on Grassholm in 2022 and are on the lookout for any more arriving this year. This was observed in live birds at several Gannet colonies last year and we have had reports this Spring of birds returning to colonies with it. It’s believed to indicate that the bird has either had or been exposed to H5N1 (the current strain of HPAI) and survived. We don’t yet know how it impacts foraging, breeding behaviour or long-term survival and this is something that the RSPB and others are looking at this year.    

It’s too soon to say for sure how the 2023 season will pan out and it’s not until we do a repeat population survey in June that we’ll get a true picture of the impact of last year’s events on the breeding population on Grassholm. According to Greg, “If we don’t have a repeat of last year’s events then hopefully returning non-breeders will start to fill the gaps, but if we see another outbreak then the population could be in for a further hammering.” 

I asked Greg if he had any key lessons he thinks governments should be learning from the impact of this disease and his view, which echos some of our key advocacy asks, is that sufficient funding to carry out further research on the virus is vital.  

Northern Gannets mutually preening © Katie Nethercoat (rspb-images.com)  

Seabirds are long-lived, take several years to reach breeding age and rear only one or two chicks per year, so it is particularly difficult for them to recover from the impacts of a threat such as avian flu. Even before this outbreak, they were facing mounting threats which led to them not only failing to achieve Good Environmental Status, but unfortunately being classified as moving away from target. 

We will continue to closely monitor our returning seabirds and to do our best to push governments in the four countries to help build resilience among these already vulnerable species. This needs to happen through actions including closing UK waters to sandeel fishing; improving biosecurity for our island seabirds; eliminating seabird deaths from bycatch in fishing gear; and ensuring a Nature-Positive offshore energy transition as laid out in our Powering Healthy Seas report. In Wales, as in other countries, we’re calling for the publication of a seabird conservation strategy to make seabird recovery a priority. You can add your voice to this call here. We’re also pushing for a Welsh marine development plan. 

For decades, we’ve campaigned for a ban on industrial trawling for sandeels in UK seas to help protect this important food source, so we’re thrilled that Defra is currently running a consultation on the future of sandeel fishing, which could secure a much-needed ban in English waters. To make a UK-wide ban a reality, we need the other UK countries, who also don’t support this fishery, to do the same. 

Add your voice to support the ban on sandeel fishing in English waters here. 

Although the risk of humans contracting avian flu is very low, we recommend that people avoid touching sick or dead wild birds. You can report dead wild birds on the Defra website or check the DAERA website for Northern Ireland.

Jean Duggan, Policy Assistant – Avian Influenza and Greg Morgan, Site Manager for Ramsey Island and Grassholm Island