Park swans and geese die in avian flu outbreak
DOZENS of swans and geese are feared to have died of bird flu at one of Birmingham’s most popular parks.
Birmingham City Council and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are investigating the deaths at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston following claims up to 80 birds had been ‘‘dying for weeks’’.
A number of dead and dying birds could be seen in the park on Wednesday with an RSPCA inspector taking them away.
One regular visitor said: “This has been going on for weeks, way before Christmas.
“I come here regularly to walk my dog. It is so upsetting to see the birds dead and dying. I have seen birds
who are still alive but have lost all their feathers and a swan just circling around over and over again in distress.
“There are dead birds floating in the water and on the islands. I have been told up to eight birds have been found dead most days and around 80 in total. It is so tragic.”
A Birmingham City Council spokesman urged people who spotted a dead bird to contact a park ranger.
The spokesman said: “We are currently working with partner organisations to investigate bird deaths at Cannon Hill Park.
“Regardless of the confirmed cause, we would urge anyone who spots any dead birds to contact a park ranger or the likes of the RSPB so the situation can be dealt with and investigated appropriately.”
A spokeswoman for DEFRA said: “We are aware of a number of wild bird deaths reported from several locations in England.
“These deaths are currently under investigation as part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) on-going wild bird surveillance programme.
“Members of the public should not pick up any dead or visibly sick birds.
“APHA will arrange collection of some of these birds and test them to help us understand how the disease is distributed geographically and in different types of bird. Not all birds will be collected.
“Where dead birds are not required for surveillance purposes it is the landowner’s responsibility to safely dispose of the carcasses as animal byproducts.”