Avian Flu
Musing whilst out rambling today on a beautiful day. Has avian flu been much more widespread and longer in the wild bird population than previously thought. The theory is it comes from the continent with the influx of winter migrants.It is now only headlines because it affects commercial poultry.These however are mainly housed in doors in bio secure units. The explosion in Nature reserves have condensed the migrants with the pathogen transmitting it to the native birds attracted to these areas often by artificial feeding.Likewise the trend to garden feeders has had the same effect. So perhaps the much lauded, especially by so called pundits,destruction of habitat is not the prime cause but our mistaken interference in such an area. Just a thought.
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Avian flu hit the headlines in this area when dead seabirds were washed up on the coast and not because it affected commercial enterprises. The arrival of infected seabirds caused this area to become an Avian Flu Prevention Zone and the Marine Conservation Officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust described the situation as a "global pandemic". Therefore, it seems unlikely that the cause is human intervention in the way you describe.
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Here’s an interesting fact which certainly poses several questions, some possibly about the impact of such release of huge amounts of birds into an environment and the control of Avian Flu.
‘It is estimated that in August each year, the volume of gamebirds being reared for shooting in the UK is equal to half the biomass of all Britain’s wild birds.’
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But were they diseased? They were monitored as they were reared so disease would have been noticed. I agree they would be released in big numbers and again too intensive.I have no interest in the game bird industry and find the idea of shooting tame half grown birds ridiculous.In any case my money is too valuable. How does that number compare with the Geese,Ducks and other winter migrants.
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Agreed Fish, but what was interesting was the density of gamebirds mentioned and it’s relationship to the total biomass of all wild birds in the UK. Quite amazing in my view.
Sadly controls/bans on game bird release have only recently come into effect. However this, it has been noted, was implemented after the usual annual mass release which takes place around September. Now I wonder why this rather late date was decided upon and considered ‘important’?1 -
Fisherman I think Avian flu is probably always around to some extent but rather like the Sars virus and Covid it's a highly infectious strain that's hit this time. The poultry industry has a lot of outdoor reared birds so that is a major problem for those involved. Not quite sure what you're saying really as birds have always migrated and I think the first big major outbreak started with migratory birds arriving here, nothing to do with reserves or feeding birds. Having seen dead sea birds in Devon this year it's a very sad sight.
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Thing is fish, creatures have no political boundaries it’s highly possible that we have created this nightmare scenario through our manipulation and destruction of all that is natural. We’ve messed with nature and are possibly now reaping the consequences. Repair, rewild and rebalance may be the only answer if it’s not too late! May be we are the problem, we are the common denominator after all!
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Undoubtedly but we humans have helped the spread. Gathering vast number of migrating birds in say Slimbridge and other reserves was the perfect breeding ground for the disease. Like Covid no one will admit to that. Again its "so called" interference that compounds the problems just like rewilding. Is this comment acceptable?
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Good gracious, The Wash and other estuaries have massively greater influx of migrating birds than the relative few at say Slimbridge..
Also go to any beach across the UK at present and like me you will see possibly tens of thousands of knots feeding across the literal zone. All migrated here from overseas. So, in conclusion the comment is not acceptable and nor is that connection with rewilding.
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Your own back yard is an environmental disaster Fish, chicken farms in Wales, particularly Powys. Having a huge effect on the rivers. Money, money, money. Couple of years old this article, but …….
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I don’t eat chicken. Mainly because I saw inside a battery farm as a teenager, and was horrified at the treatment of the poor things. The only eggs I eat are from my BIL now, I know how well his chickens are cared for.
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So how do caged birds catch it then? Wild birds getting into the caged areas and passing it on to those inside who then are transmitters themselves, spreading it among themselves and other free roaming birds.
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Simples- by their very nature gaged birds( kept indoors in bio secure units) dont interact with wild birds outside so no transmission. In any case all the media were pointing the finger at the Water Companies for the degradation of our rivers, not chicken poo. Its not all doom and gloom my mate caught 2 Salmon and 5 Sea Trout on the Dovey last Wednesday. Being a countryman he returned them all.
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That looks like good news for those particular salmonoids but what is a countryman. Is this one who is enlightened to all things natural? Many rivers flow through urban conurbations. Surely it’s the responsibility of al of usl, regardless of where we live, to protect our rivers from source to sea! Rivers are a complex system not just little beats.Too much damage is being done along entire lengths and some, unfortunately by practices in the upper watershed system too by those who really should know better.
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