Terning The Tide On Bird Flu

Bird flu has struck sixty-one species of bird in the Bird flu has struck sixty-one species of bird in the UK since the current outbreak began back in 2021. UK since the current outbreak began back in 2021. The disease hit the headlines last summer when it The disease hit the headlines last summer when it landed with a bang at seabird colonies the length landed with a bang at seabird colonies the length and breadth of Britain, including at Scolt Head and breadth of Britain, including at Scolt Head Island on the north Norfolk coast, where hundreds Island on the north Norfolk coast, where hundreds or perhaps even thousands of birds are thought or perhaps even thousands of birds are thought to have been wiped out. This month, Nick Moran to have been wiped out. This month, Nick Moran of the British Trust for Ornithology will be walking of the British Trust for Ornithology will be walking the sixty-one miles from BTO headquarters in the sixty-one miles from BTO headquarters in Thetford to Scolt alongside friend and fellow birderThetford to Scolt alongside friend and fellow birder Jonny Rankin. The pair will cover the distance Jonny Rankin. The pair will cover the distance in just two days, raising money to help fund vital in just two days, raising money to help fund vital BTO research into the impacts of bird flu. BTO research into the impacts of bird flu. Nick and Jonny have previously raised more than Nick and Jonny have previously raised more than £20,000 to help fund work to protect the turtle £20,000 to help fund work to protect the turtle dove, the UK’s fastest declining bird. When they’re dove, the UK’s fastest declining bird. When they’re not on a sponsored walk, run, bike ride or kayak not on a sponsored walk, run, bike ride or kayak trip, the two are regular visitors to Scolt Head, trip, the two are regular visitors to Scolt Head, an important breeding site for several species of an important breeding site for several species of tern. Sadly, more than three quarters of last year’s tern. Sadly, more than three quarters of last year’s chicks were killed by bird flu, with bag after bag chicks were killed by bird flu, with bag after bag of corpses removed by the island’s warden. Their of corpses removed by the island’s warden. Their sponsored walk – titled ‘Tern the Tide’ – hopes to sponsored walk – titled ‘Tern the Tide’ – hopes to do just that: to change the fortunes of Norfolk’s do just that: to change the fortunes of Norfolk’s internationally important but sadly increasingly internationally important but sadly increasingly threatened seabirds. threatened seabirds.

Nick Moran (left) and Jonny Rankin

Only by surveying seabird colonies later this year, once the remaining birds have returned to breed, will the true scale of loss for those species be known. For other types of bird, the story may just be beginning. Head to www.justgiving.com/page/ternthetide to sponsor Nick and Jonny and find out more about their challenge.

The deadline for advertising in, or contributing to the March 2023 edition of

About Thetford magazine is 15th February. Please send your text / artwork to: Safe Gas 1/4th Advert_Layout 1 08/12/2016 07:54 Page 1

aboutthetfordmagazine@googlemail.com

BTO’s director of science explained the situation to parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee in December. Professor James Pearce-Higgins compared the speed and scale of bird flu’s impact on breeding seabirds earlier this year to the way pesticide use in the 1950s pushed some UK raptors close to extinction, and the devastating effect on farmland birds of agricultural intensification in the 1970s and 1980s. While data from bird ringing and other BTO-led long-term Betts of Brandon 1/8 AD.qxp_Layout 1 09/04/2019 16:38 monitoring schemes have helped scientists to establish the scale of the outbreak, the true impact of bird flu remains unknown. BE BETTS B Of Of Brandon T ALL ALLTYPES OF FENCING AND GATE GATES SUPPLIED AND FITTED

BTO’s director of science explained the situation to parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee in December. Professor James Pearce-Higgins compared the speed and scale of bird flu’s impact on breeding seabirds earlier this year to the way pesticide use in the 1950s pushed some UK raptors close to extinction, and the devastating effect on farmland birds of agricultural intensification in the 1970s and 1980s. While data from bird ringing and other BTO-led long-term Betts of Brandon 1/8 AD.qxp_Layout 1 09/04/2019 16:38 monitoring schemes have helped scientists to establish the scale of the outbreak, the true impact of bird flu remains unknown. Call: 01842811003 Fengate Drove • Brandon

Plumbing & Heating specialists for domestic purposes.

l Central heating installations l Boiler changes l Landlord certifications & safety checks l Bathroom, shower & toilet installations l Cooker & hob installs l Fire installations l Water heater installs

Making your home as safe as our own!

Wall and hedge removal from boundaries Decking supplied and fitted

HER Please mention the About Thetford Magazine 29PLAYHOUSES FROM £371.00 ITAGE BUILDINGS FROM £476.00 when responding to advertisements

Licensed Gas Engineer