Cases of avian flu have been confirmed in many counties and it is suspected that there could be cases at Pitsford Water, Northamptonshire; Anglian Water have reported cases of dead birds to Defra and are monitoring the situation. Following on from the many cases seen around the UK coast, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Lincolnshire, Kent, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire have all had cases, as the spread from seabirds to wild birds such as waterfowl becomes ever more concerning.

In our three counties sites now seen as most at risk are Godmanchester NR, Pitsford Water, Grafham Water, Nene Valley, Ouse valley, Ouse Washes and Nene Washes, although any local wetland could potentially have an outbreak. Dogs, although not at a particular risk from avian flu, should be kept on leads at any wetland sites as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. Many birds die every week of natural causes and so it is not unusual to occasionally find dead birds, however awareness is now important.

Cambridgeshire senior reserves manager Matt Hamilton recently talked to ITV Anglia News outlining concerns for wild bird populations.

Advice to visitors to any wetlands includes not feeding any wild birds (never advised at nature reserves anywhere) to prevent flock congregations; keeping dogs on leads at all times and not to pick up or touch dead or sick wild birds, or surfaces contaminated with wild bird droppings.

Avian Influenza (bird flu) is a notifiable animal disease meaning people are legally obliged to report to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) even if only suspected that an animal maybe affected. 

If you find or see any dead wild waterfowl or wild birds - swans, geese, ducks, gulls, birds of prey - report them to the Defra Helpline 03459 335577. The APHA will collect some of the birds and test them but not all birds will be collected.  Advice to the public is to not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds. We will be monitoring any possible outbreaks of Avian Influenza on our nature reserves, but we are not able at present to remove birds that may have died from Avian Influenza as specialist equipment is required for safe carcass removal.

The APHA carries out year-round avian influenza surveillance of dead wild birds submitted via public records and warden patrols at selected wetland sites across Great Britain: there is further information on the gov.uk website. 

Guidelines/information from BTO 
Guidelines/information from RSPB 
Call for future action by Wildlife Trusts