More than 50,000 wild birds in UK killed by avian flu – double previous estimates

This is an unbelievably appalling tragedy in the natural world.

The Guardian - More than 50,000 wild birds in UK killed by avian flu – double previous estimates

Avian flu has killed more than twice the number of wild birds previously estimated in the UK, according to data collected by the Guardian, with numbers likely to escalate during this year’s breeding season.

The highly infectious variant of H5N1 has caused Europe’s worst bird flu outbreak, resulting in the most significant and sudden loss of birds in decades. Conservationists are warning that it could mean the extinction of some seabird species as breeding colonies have been particularly badly hit.

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) estimates that “many more than 20,000” wild birds have died in the UK since the current outbreak began in October 2021. However, the Guardian has studied data from devolved governments and nature organisations that shows the actual figure is at least 50,000 between October 2021 until the start of April 2023.

Experts say this number is still likely to be a gross underestimate as there is no national monitoring and most carcasses are never found and not counted.

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