Avian Influenza Disease...

THIS winter the whole of Britain is in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) but wild waterfowl species are particularly @ risk on the Merseyside Coastline. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has made a number of Protection, Surveillance and Controlled Zones near Southport, Preston, Ormskirk, and Blackpool.

For more information on Avian Influenza Disease and what this means to us, you can find out more at:- Gov.UK. Also you can also find more information about the effects locally on Sefton Council's website.  For up to date maps, please see:- Defra.Maps.Arcgis.com.

How to report suspected bird flu in poultry or captive birds...

If you suspect any type of bird flu in poultry or captive birds you must report it immediately by calling the @DefraGovUK Rural Services Helpline on:- 03000200301.

Reporting dead wild birds... You should call the Defra helpline:- 03459335577 if you find:-

1 or more dead birds of prey or owl.

3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)

5 or more dead birds of any species.

Don't touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds

Reporting sick or injured wild birds should be reported to the RSPCA:- 03001234999.

If you see dead ringed birds, you can report the ring details to the BTO using the EURING website, and you can find out more on:- App.BTO.Org.

Public Health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that Avian Influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.

Human infections with Avian Influenza are very rare. However, some viruses, such as:- H5N1 or H7N9, have been associated with human disease.. Also, currently, medical advice says it requires prolonged contact with an infected bird/s. The symptoms of Avian Influenza in humans vary considerably depending on the strain or subtype of the virus involved. Most infections take the form of a flu-like illness (fever, cough, body or muscle pain, sore throat, runny nose). Other symptoms can include:- conjunctivitis (red, sore, and discharging eyes).
You can get more Health related information about Avian Influenza on the NHS website and also on:- Gov.UK, along with:- WebArchive.NationalArchives.Gov.UK, and HPA.Org.UK.

Avian Influenza is in no way connected to the Covid19 Pandemic, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is not carried in poultry or captive birds.

The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, Avian Influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including:- eggs, are safe to eat.

If you want more information on how this virus can affect birds, The British Trust for Ornithology has more information that can be found at:- BTO.Org.

Please note that by law, bird keepers should register their birds. This applies to all birds except those kept within your home. This will enable the Department to provide you with up to date information about Avian Influenza and measures you can take to prevent spread to your birds. Registration forms are available on Dafra's website or by contacting your local Dafra Direct Regional Office. You can also Text:- 'BIRDS OPT IN' (to add your number to RECEIVE text messages) or:- 'BIRDS OPT OUT' (to STOP getting text messages) to:- 07860098672.

Pumpkin dumping a scary threat to wildlife this Halloween, warns the Woodland Trust

WITH Halloween looming the Woodland Trust has issued an urgent plea to witches, wizards and spooks everywhere not to endanger wildlife by dumping pumpkins in woodland. The UK's largest woodland conservation charity has spotted a worrying trend in recent years for Halloween pumpkins to be taken to the nearest wood and left, in a well meaning but misguided attempt, to provide food for birds and woodland creatures.

"A myth seems to have built up that leaving pumpkins in woods helps wildlife. People think they're doing a good thing by not binning them in landfill and instead leaving them for nature... But pumpkin flesh can be dangerous for hedgehogs, attracts colonies of rats and also has a really detrimental effect on woodland soils, plants and fungi. We can't leave dumped pumpkins to rot so we end up with an orange mushy mess to deal with at many of our sites." explained Paul Bunton, Engagement and Communication Officer at Woodland Trust.

Trevor Weeks from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service echoed the Trust's concern over the risk to hedgehogs because, like other wildlife:- "They are opportunistic eaters and they spend autumn and early winter building up their fat reserves for hibernation. As a result, hedgehogs can gorge themselves on easily available food like dumped pumpkins. Although not toxic to them the fleshy fibrous fruit can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea as they are not designed to eat large quantities of fruit. This can lead to them becoming bloated and dangerously dehydrated which in turn can be fatal. At this time of year, they can't afford to become ill, or they may not survive the winter hibernation."

According to the Trust, which owns and cares for more than 1,000 free-to-visit woods across the UK, the pumpkin problem seems to be starting earlier and earlier, with supermarkets flooded with cheap pumpkins for sale and pumpkin-picking growing in popularity as a family activity in the run up to Halloween.

Paul continued:- "Thousands of tonnes of pumpkin gets thrown away in the UK after Halloween each year, so it would be great if we could all put that to better use. Jack o lanterns can be good for wildlife in small quantities in gardens, but not woodland or other countryside. We are urging people everywhere to make soup, make a birdfeeder for your garden, but please don't make a mess of the countryside!"

The Woodland Trust's Love Your Woods campaign encourages people to enjoy their visit while helping protect woods and nature for the future. Visitors can play their part by following some simple advice, including staying fire-free, staying on paths, taking dog mess and litter home and protecting wildlife by keeping dogs close.