Dead seagull mystery

[justasking111]

We're in n Wales no decent rain for weeks. The last few days reports coming in of people seeing dead seagulls. The council appear to be collecting the bodies and putting them somewhere. OH saw three dead ones this morning on the cob. Our ponds, streams etc are drying up. Could they be dying of thirst??

Avian flu probably

I’d say avian flu, they were dropping like flies here in Brighton a few weeks back. At one time I saw 4 dead ones in a day.

BUT that's notifiable the council are putting them in a skip 🙈

I too would think its birds flu!

Adult ones its probably bird flu. Baby ones that have fallen from roofs etc probably dehydration. Apparently a lot more baby seagulls have died this year than normal because of being on hot roofs with no shade in the higher temperatures.

Good point about the heat even when they fledge they're hanging around on concrete, tarmac all day around here

gov.wales/avian-influenza-bird-flu-latest-update

We're supposed to contact DEFRA if we find them.

Not really that much of a mystery - as others have said, Avian Influenza is spreading alarmingly.

A 3-year-old Osprey (schedule 1 protected species) was found dead on a beach in North Wales about a week ago and although there has been no confirmed cause of death, North Wales Rural Crime Team are dealing with it and I do wonder if he died of Avian Flu. I really shouldn't speculate, however.

OP, I'm a bit confused. When referring to your OP about the dead seagulls, you say "the council appear to be collecting the bodies and putting them somewhere" but then you say they are putting them in a skip. This needs reporting to DEFRA as a matter of urgency - with evidence if you can get any. If the council are dumping bodies of dead wild birds like that, I'm certain they are breaking the law.

I live in Cornwall, last couple weeks I have seen loads of dead seagulls. I also wondered about avian flu but the council don't seem in a hurry to clean them up here

@MermaidSwimming report them to defra as they need to be made aware
And OP call defra as well and say what you have seen , maybe they are aware pr maybe not

Weirdly in St Ives according to the various FB groups I’m on, there’s literally hundreds of dead crabs that have washed up on the beaches the last few weeks too.

Went looking last night Brighton . There's something going on besides the heat. I will report. Hopefully DEFRA are joining the dots.

In the past I've kept hens, geese, ducks. Been glad I didn't have to lock them up for months on end. I expect they'd have died in this heatwave locked up in sheds

They are joining the dots - multiple reports all along the Sussex coast, wildlife charities not taking sick birds due to risk, loads of dead seagulls further east to Brighton - it's a real problem.

Why is it suddenly not a problem when all winter it was. The winter birds have gone now so is it our summer visitors bringing avian flu in

Well I've tried to tell FB local groups they won't allow it, because it's irrelevant to our local folks. WE obviously have magical protection here 🙄

Dead seagulls have been turning up locally.
OH saw three yesterday on the cob.
Other dog walkers have been finding them.
If you see sick or dead seagulls, report to DEFRA .
Don't pick them up.
Brighton, Kent, Cornwall, Aberdeenshire and the Isle of Wight have
recognised outbreaks.

That happened on the North East Coast recently too. Was really creepy to walk down the beach and see them all. We came away very quickly as even the dog seemed bothered by them! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-60438811

Jakers that's bad

northeastbylines.co.uk/marine-creature-deaths-middlesbrough-council-resolves-to-take-action/

This is awful

We went over to Scotland last week. Went to Westport beach in Kintyre. The beach was covered in dead seagulls. I gave up counting in the end. Google search said Avian Flu.

All alive and kicking in Dartmouth!

I smell a rat with DEFRA . It's got out of hand now so they've either thrown in the towel or don't want to affect tourism across the UK.

Can't believe the national press haven't joined the dots if there's this much coverage in the local press.

It has been in the press. Have heard loads about it.

I'm surprised we don't need to keep domestic birds in again though.

Ours are in a massive cage (6 chickens, humans could have a party in there it's a standing cage with a hen house inside) but the plastic roofing blew off in storm Eunice and we havent replaced it.

I've just added new plastic sheeting to my to do list for tomorrow to keep them safe.