An increase in reports of dead seabirds around Scotland's coast has prompted Fife Council to issue advice to anyone finding dead or ill bird on the Kingdom's shores.

In recent weeks, monitoring by NatureScot and partners, including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), RSPB Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland, has revealed worrying signs that more seabirds may be succumbing to Avian Flu (Bird Flu).

Fife Council is working with partner agencies following reports of dead seabirds off the Aberdeenshire and Angus coastlines, and there is a risk that dead birds may appear on Fife's shores.

The Council is urging the public not to pick up or touch dead or sick wild birds. It is also advising that dogs and other pets should be away from any dead or sick birds and that people should not feed wild waterfowl, and they should not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings.

Dunfermline Press: Sandwich terns and black-headed gulls are among the birds to have tested positive for bird flu in recent weeks. Sandwich terns and black-headed gulls are among the birds to have tested positive for bird flu in recent weeks. (Image: Lorne Gill/NatureScot)

Anyone who keeps poultry or other birds, should wash their hands and clean and disinfect their footwear before tending to their birds.

There has been a particular rise in reports of dead kittiwakes, black-headed gulls, herring gulls, terns and guillemots being washed up on the east coast of Scotland.  

So far in Scotland this spring/summer, testing has confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Sandwich tern, common tern, kittiwake, herring gull, black-headed gull and guillemot.

Kittiwakes have also tested positive for the virus on the Isle of May, confirming that avian flu is likely responsible for the growing number of deaths being reported there. 

However, the overall picture is not yet clear as elsewhere testing has had mixed results, with some tests of kittiwakes and black-headed gulls in different parts of the country coming back negative for bird flu.

There are a number of other factors that can impact on seabird survival, such as prey availability, predation by invasive non-native species, rough weather and potentially longer term climate change, so further testing is required to fully understand what is happening along our shores. 

Alastair MacGugan, a NatureScot Wildlife Manager, said: “Unfortunately after a quieter period we are beginning to see an increase in the number of dead birds being reported through our surveillance network, particularly on the east coast.

“While we are thankfully not seeing the large numbers of dead birds around breeding sites that we did last year, this development is really concerning and we’re working hard with all partners in Scotland’s Avian Flu Task Force to understand what is happening and take action to make our wild bird populations more resilient.

“Testing is key to unravelling just what is happening to our seabirds. We are working with Scottish Government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency to coordinate testing and when possible, to carry out post mortems on dead birds. This gives us a clearer picture on whether starvation or avian flu is the main cause of the current deaths we are seeing."

If you find a single dead bird of prey, swan, goose, duck or gull, or five or more dead wild birds of any other species at the same time, you should report them on the UK Government website or call 03459 33 55 77.

If you find a live but ailing bird call SSPCA on 03000 999 999.  

For removal of dead birds contact Fife Council on 03451 55 00 22. Officers will assess and uplift if required.

Find out more at the Scottish Government's Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) web page.