31/10/2025
Warning for walkers and dog walkers as Bird Flu found locally. Please keep your dogs out of the water. Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue - Midlands says:
*AVIAN INFLUENZA*
Over the past two weeks we have been getting an increasing amount of calls regarding sick birds, mainly swans and geese, from varying locations.
We have been aware of dead swans and geese at several of these locations as well. DEFRA unfortunately fail to collect most of them but some from one site have been submitted for testing. Whilst nothing is confirmed officially yet, it’s highly likely these birds are suffering frim
Avian Influenza going off the clinical signs and experience from past outbreaks.
We have multiple volunteers monitoring flocks in our catchment area so that we can better risk assess any casualties being reported.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to be seeing the steady increase in these cases and it appears to be heading the same trajectory as the 2021/22 period.
We are currently liasing with the National Forest ranger and the council wardens to limit the impact this virus has. Waterfowl have a much lower mortality rate than other species and most will get over it without intervention when the viral load in an area is low. Where birds are sick and dying, we advise to temporarily stopping feeding. This will ensure the birds spread out and they have a better chance to survive the virus. They will not starve, there is plenty of natural food for them and it’s a temporary measure, usually for around two weeks. In regards to birds flying off and ‘spreading it elsewhere’, this is a non issue. Reducing the viral load upon the body will ensure better chance of survival and it’s inevitable that birds are going to come across the virus. In fact, most of those that survived the last major outbreak season, now have immunity.
We have observed clinical signs of Avian Influenza in birds at the following locations:
* Alvaston Park- Derby( sick and dead swans)
* Elvaston Castle - Derby ( sick and dead swans and geese)
* Albert village lake - Swadlincote (sick and dead geese and swans)
* private lake in Long Eaton (sick and dead swans)
* private lake in Spondon ( sick and dead swans )
* Straws Bridge Nature Reserve in Ilkeston (sick mallard)
Clinical signs we have observed in wild birds include:
* Sudden Death
* Appearing blind/unaware of surroundings
* Lethargy
* Neurological signs ie twitching, walking/swimming in circles, wobbling
* Eye closure or eyes appearing sore
* Corneal Opacity - Blue eyes.
* struggling to hold the neck up.
* Gasping for air
* Drooling
* Confusion
* Green diarrhoea
We recommend that dog walkers keep their dogs on leads at all times. Dogs and cats have been known to get the virus from eating infected birds or ingestion of faeces from an infected bird. Sick birds will also be slow to react to dangers so dog attacks are more likely to happen.
Dead birds can be reported to the council, National Forest (if on their sites) and Defra. Live sick birds can be reported to ourselves. Please do not pick the birds up and attempt to bring them to the sanctuary.
At the moment, high risk birds are only being accepted at our site in Burton, where we can then test them and isolate them for a period to ensure they are clear. Drop offs are appointment only after a risk assessment.
National Forest 01283 551211
DEFRA bird flu line 03459 33 55 77
Our phone number is 07780 742748
When reporting sick birds, you will be asked to send a video. This allows us to assess the situation, take appropriate precautions and help the animal quicker. We have had issues in the past and one recently last week where members of the public become difficult and refuse to send a video or photos. One person last week remarked ‘what can you tell from a video? It’s just floating about’. We can tell alot from a video. We work with these birds all day every day and can pick out a sick one in a flock because we know their normal behaviours. Sending us a video or photo will allow us to also prioritise urgent cases.
We will still help all species of bird regardless but please work with us and help us by getting video footage. Also think about downloading Whats3words. This app allows us to find sick animals much quicker otherwise it can take time to find them.
*AVIAN INFLUENZA*
Over the past two weeks we have been getting an increasing amount of calls regarding sick birds, mainly swans and geese, from varying locations.
We have been aware of dead swans and geese at several of these locations as well. DEFRA unfortunately fail to collect most of them but some from one site have been submitted for testing. Whilst nothing is confirmed officially yet, it’s highly likely these birds are suffering frim
Avian Influenza going off the clinical signs and experience from past outbreaks.
We have multiple volunteers monitoring flocks in our catchment area so that we can better risk assess any casualties being reported.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to be seeing the steady increase in these cases and it appears to be heading the same trajectory as the 2021/22 period.
We are currently liasing with the National Forest ranger and the council wardens to limit the impact this virus has. Waterfowl have a much lower mortality rate than other species and most will get over it without intervention when the viral load in an area is low. Where birds are sick and dying, we advise to temporarily stopping feeding. This will ensure the birds spread out and they have a better chance to survive the virus. They will not starve, there is plenty of natural food for them and it’s a temporary measure, usually for around two weeks. In regards to birds flying off and ‘spreading it elsewhere’, this is a non issue. Reducing the viral load upon the body will ensure better chance of survival and it’s inevitable that birds are going to come across the virus. In fact, most of those that survived the last major outbreak season, now have immunity.
We have observed clinical signs of Avian Influenza in birds at the following locations:
* Alvaston Park- Derby( sick and dead swans)
* Elvaston Castle - Derby ( sick and dead swans and geese)
* Albert village lake - Swadlincote (sick and dead geese and swans)
* private lake in Long Eaton (sick and dead swans)
* private lake in Spondon ( sick and dead swans )
* Straws Bridge Nature Reserve in Ilkeston (sick mallard)
Clinical signs we have observed in wild birds include:
* Sudden Death
* Appearing blind/unaware of surroundings
* Lethargy
* Neurological signs ie twitching, walking/swimming in circles, wobbling
* Eye closure or eyes appearing sore
* Corneal Opacity - Blue eyes.
* struggling to hold the neck up.
* Gasping for air
* Drooling
* Confusion
* Green diarrhoea
We recommend that dog walkers keep their dogs on leads at all times. Dogs and cats have been known to get the virus from eating infected birds or ingestion of faeces from an infected bird. Sick birds will also be slow to react to dangers so dog attacks are more likely to happen.
Dead birds can be reported to the council, National Forest (if on their sites) and Defra. Live sick birds can be reported to ourselves. Please do not pick the birds up and attempt to bring them to the sanctuary.
At the moment, high risk birds are only being accepted at our site in Burton, where we can then test them and isolate them for a period to ensure they are clear. Drop offs are appointment only after a risk assessment.
National Forest 01283 551211
DEFRA bird flu line 03459 33 55 77
Our phone number is 07780 742748
When reporting sick birds, you will be asked to send a video. This allows us to assess the situation, take appropriate precautions and help the animal quicker. We have had issues in the past and one recently last week where members of the public become difficult and refuse to send a video or photos. One person last week remarked ‘what can you tell from a video? It’s just floating about’. We can tell alot from a video. We work with these birds all day every day and can pick out a sick one in a flock because we know their normal behaviours. Sending us a video or photo will allow us to also prioritise urgent cases.
We will still help all species of bird regardless but please work with us and help us by getting video footage. Also think about downloading Whats3words. This app allows us to find sick animals much quicker otherwise it can take time to find them.
