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80 seabirds found dead on Orkney
By Auslan Cramb
Last Updated: 6:01pm BST 29/07/2008
An investigation has been launched after 80 dead seabirds were found in the centre of Kirkwall on Orkney.
Tests for bird flu are being carried out, but experts said the black-backed gulls were not showing any symptoms of the disease.
They were found dead or dying on a large expanse of water in the island capital, and some have been sent to a veterinary laboratory in Thurso.
Around 20 per cent of the birds appeared to have a blue substance on their feathers, and others had blue marks on their beaks.
Willie Stewart, a veterinary officer with the Scottish Executive's environment and rural affairs department said it was important to check for avian flu, although there were no signs that they had the virus.
The area, known as the Peedie Sea, is popular with families and dog walkers and as a precautionary measure people are being asked to stay away from the shore until the cause of the incident is known.
Mike Lynch, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "It's very unsual and of major concern to have so many birds, all black-backed gulls, die in this way." Around 20 black-headed gulls died in a similar incident last summer.
The test results are expected later this week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/07/29/eaorkney129.xml
By Auslan Cramb
Last Updated: 6:01pm BST 29/07/2008
An investigation has been launched after 80 dead seabirds were found in the centre of Kirkwall on Orkney.
Tests for bird flu are being carried out, but experts said the black-backed gulls were not showing any symptoms of the disease.
They were found dead or dying on a large expanse of water in the island capital, and some have been sent to a veterinary laboratory in Thurso.
Around 20 per cent of the birds appeared to have a blue substance on their feathers, and others had blue marks on their beaks.
Willie Stewart, a veterinary officer with the Scottish Executive's environment and rural affairs department said it was important to check for avian flu, although there were no signs that they had the virus.
The area, known as the Peedie Sea, is popular with families and dog walkers and as a precautionary measure people are being asked to stay away from the shore until the cause of the incident is known.
Mike Lynch, of the Scottish SPCA, said: "It's very unsual and of major concern to have so many birds, all black-backed gulls, die in this way." Around 20 black-headed gulls died in a similar incident last summer.
The test results are expected later this week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/07/29/eaorkney129.xml