Not exceptionally many, but there are enough victims of bird flu to keep a finger on the pulse. Marc Plomp of the bird information center on Texel receives daily reports from people who find dead birds. Sometimes the dead birds lie along the road, but often in a nature reserve. There is still no question of a large mortality among the birds as last year. “But we have to be vigilant now,” says the Texel ornithologist.
Together with Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, Hoogheemraadschap, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Ecomare and the municipality, Plomp closely monitors bird mortality. “We keep each other informed if there are any victims. Everyone has their own responsibility with regard to cleaning up. At the moment there is bird flu on Texel. A few herring gulls have been found. Samples have been taken from these birds, and it has become apparent that these died of bird flu.” According to Plomp, there is not yet a major epidemic.
The ornithologist says he receives many reports from people who see dead birds. “And you can’t clean them up yourself. That’s not wise either. Because you can easily spread the disease.” In addition, there is a risk of infection for the people themselves. “That chance is very small,” says Plomp. “But it is possible. So people have to watch out for that too.”
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In the Flevopolder, Overijssel, Gelderland and Zeeland there are many victims of bird flu. “Especially among the black-headed gulls,” says Plomp. “It’s really hit there. They fall over there in droves.”
“Yesterday we had a dead black-headed gull in the colony of the Het Wagejot nature reserve. But that’s normal. You sometimes find a dead goose or duck along the road. Birds are still walking under a car. We shouldn’t forget that either. We should not panic. But with a dead black-headed gull in a colony we are on ‘sharp’. This has also been picked up by Natuurmonumenten and removed from the colony as soon as possible. If the bird has died of bird flu, it will in any case be case does not spread, because such a dead bird does spread the virus.”
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The reports of species that Plomp receives vary widely. “Those are geese, gulls and eider ducks. Here on the north side on the sea side near De Cocksdorp there is a place where they regularly wash up. There are always dead birds there. But a tourist doesn’t know that. He thinks: there are three dead birds. What is going on now? But that doesn’t always say anything.”
The breeding areas in particular are now being monitored. There are also many bird watchers on the island at the moment. “We do ask them to report victims.” The colonies are closely monitored. “When I drive past it, I always look with binoculars to see if something crazy is going on. Natuurmonumenten and Staatsbosbeheer do the same.”
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Last weekend there was a ‘bird festival’ on Texel. A webcam was placed at the Prins Hendrik Zanddijk from the proceeds of this. “There is now a nice colony of sandwich terns there,” says Plomp. “It is now the only colony on Texel.” This small group of sandwich terns has settled on the new sand plain on the southern part of the island after last year’s epidemic. “Then they raised a few hundred young. Now there seem to be about a thousand breeding pairs. All hopes are now pinned on that. For comparison: Three years ago we still had seven thousand breeding pairs of sandwich terns on Texel.”
The birds are hardly visible from the dike with binoculars. “Now we can use the webcam to see if there are any casualties. And then also intervene in good time if it turns out to be necessary. Moreover, we can check whether people are being disturbed. Because they also spread bird flu. If the birds are in poor condition, because they are hunted, for example, then they also become more susceptible to bird flu.”
According to Plomp, birds that have the disease make strange movements. The terns are also courting now. That is an expression behavior to attract other birds. “Then they make roughly the same movements. So you have to look closely.”
“Last year we picked up 3600 birds within two weeks.”
According to Plomp, there is no reason to panic yet. “But last year we picked up 3600 birds within three weeks. A multiple of them died. By mid-June it was over with all colonies. Then there was no bird left.”
The disease spreads very quickly. “That’s terrifying.” It is impossible to predict when the outbreak will come. “Previously, bird flu was only active during the winter months. Last year for the first time during the breeding period. That makes it unpredictable and frightening. Because during the breeding period, the birds sit together and shout in each other’s faces all day long. You can compare it with the corona virus. Just stand coughing in each other’s face all day and you will spread it.”