Bird flu flockdown "may continue into Spring 2023"

Friday 23 September 2022

Officials on alert for bird flu have “started seeing a plateau” in the number of dead birds reported in the past week – but keepers should not be complacent, according to the Environment Minister.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf wrote to Jersey birdkeepers yesterday to thank them for their efforts to keep bird flu cases at bay in Jersey.

He also confirmed that there had been no further outbreaks in Jersey since the two in August in St. Peter and St. Lawrence and that the number of reports from the public of dead seabirds had begun to drop off.

Since the beginning of 2022, there have been more than 350 reports of dead wild birds, he said, and bird flu has been confirmed among common buzzards, herring gulls, a black-headed gull and gannets.

"It doesn't typically affect garden birds, pigeons and doves so these have not been tested, in line with UK policy," Deputy Renouf explained.
While there have been fewer reports of dead birds, the Minister said it was still necessary to keep protective measures in place.

These include keeping local flocks housed to help avoid transmission through contact with wild birds, a ban on 'bird gatherings', Defra-approved disinfectant foot dips at entrances and exits to pens.

Islanders also must obtain a licence if they wish to move birds off a premises.

"We are aware that many of you will have welfare concerns in that it is unnatural for poultry to be housed for long periods; however, this must be weighed up against the risk of losing an entire flock to the disease if they are not housed or kept isolated from wild birds," he said.

"By housing poultry and captive birds, we hope to stop the cycle of transmission continuing between wild birds and unhoused domestic flocks, prevent the high mortality rate in poultry and captive birds which comes with a great loss of enjoyment and livelihood for hobby or commercial farmers, and continue to prevent the potential low risk spread to humans."

He added that officials would "continue monitoring" bird flu cases.

"...At this stage we are uncertain if migrating wildfowl and seabirds over-wintering in Jersey will continue the spread during the colder months; in which case, housing requirements may continue into Spring 2023."