NatureScot is gathering information from across the country, including this region, to feed into the work of Scotland’s avian flu task force.
The current H5N1 strain had a devastating impact on seabird populations throughout the summer and concerns remain about how the outbreak could evolve over the coming months and affect migrating goose populations, other waterfowl and waders.
Last winter there was a large outbreak in Svalbard barnacle geese around the Solway, with approximately a third of that population impacted. However, other goose species such as pink-footed geese were not impacted as heavily.
As a result, early counts of barnacle geese are currently taking place at key sites to help guide management decisions.
Alastair MacGugan, NatureScot’s wildlife management manager, said: “As we head into the winter months, we are still very concerned about the potential impact of avian flu on our wild bird populations and we remain vigilant to ensure we can respond to the evolving situation.
“We’re monitoring wintering goose populations very closely for avian flu and are working with colleagues in Iceland and Norway to identify cases in migrating populations. Here in Scotland, we’ve set up a network of site managers and volunteers to provide real-time reporting on what is happening out in the field, helping us take swift and targeted decisions.”
