Walker reports dead birds on beach
FEARS that bird flu may have reached Ceredigion were raised after three dead gulls were found on the beach at Llanrhystud. The three razorbill gulls were found by a walker last Sunday evening on the beach. They were instantly reported to DEFRA. The walker, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted the Cambrian News after finding the three gulls close together. He said: ?I went for a walk late on Sunday afternoon on Llanrhystud beach and as I was walking I found the three dead razorbills. ?I walk the beach quite often and have never seen any dead birds there at all. I have quite often seen dead porpoises and things, but never dead birds. ?When I got home I rang DEFRA and spoke to a woman who said that she would report the fact that I had found three dead birds. ?Whether the birds were still there when DEFRA came out I don?t know, but they were just above the tideline on the beach.? DEFRA?s response to the report is unknown because a spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases or reports of dead birds. The news comes after a dead mallard duck was found on the bank of the River Teifi near Llandysul. A farmer found the bird around two weeks ago and reported it to DEFRA. However, DEFRA was criticised after it told the farmer to dispose of the carcass. DEFRA is still appealing to people to be vigilant and to phone its helpline if they spot any dead birds. People are warned not to touch any dead birds, but instead to phone the helpline on 08459 335577. So far there is only one reported case of avian flu in Britain - a dead swan found in Cellardyke in Fife. DEFRA has since said the swan is a Whooper swan and has set up a protection zone around where the bird was found. But since the announcement that bird flu was confirmed in the swan, DEFRA has said its laboratories in Weymouth have been dealing with around 1,100 bird samples daily.
Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 20 April 06
http://www.aberystwyth-today.co.uk/today/options/news/newsdetail.cfm?id=24776
(Side note: This is close to where my sister and her kids live!)
FEARS that bird flu may have reached Ceredigion were raised after three dead gulls were found on the beach at Llanrhystud. The three razorbill gulls were found by a walker last Sunday evening on the beach. They were instantly reported to DEFRA. The walker, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted the Cambrian News after finding the three gulls close together. He said: ?I went for a walk late on Sunday afternoon on Llanrhystud beach and as I was walking I found the three dead razorbills. ?I walk the beach quite often and have never seen any dead birds there at all. I have quite often seen dead porpoises and things, but never dead birds. ?When I got home I rang DEFRA and spoke to a woman who said that she would report the fact that I had found three dead birds. ?Whether the birds were still there when DEFRA came out I don?t know, but they were just above the tideline on the beach.? DEFRA?s response to the report is unknown because a spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases or reports of dead birds. The news comes after a dead mallard duck was found on the bank of the River Teifi near Llandysul. A farmer found the bird around two weeks ago and reported it to DEFRA. However, DEFRA was criticised after it told the farmer to dispose of the carcass. DEFRA is still appealing to people to be vigilant and to phone its helpline if they spot any dead birds. People are warned not to touch any dead birds, but instead to phone the helpline on 08459 335577. So far there is only one reported case of avian flu in Britain - a dead swan found in Cellardyke in Fife. DEFRA has since said the swan is a Whooper swan and has set up a protection zone around where the bird was found. But since the announcement that bird flu was confirmed in the swan, DEFRA has said its laboratories in Weymouth have been dealing with around 1,100 bird samples daily.
Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 20 April 06
http://www.aberystwyth-today.co.uk/today/options/news/newsdetail.cfm?id=24776
(Side note: This is close to where my sister and her kids live!)