Bird watchers staying vigilant

Dan Parkinson
BBC News

Birdwatchers are still flocking to the reserve. Image: Phil Coomes/BBC.

Birdwatchers and wardens at the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve in Suffolk are keeping a close eye on developments 12 miles away at the poultry farm where the H5N1 strain of bird flu has been discovered.

The bird reserve, which attracts 100,000 visitors a year, has not been closed and dozens of bird enthusiasts were enjoying their pastime on Sunday.

Speculation that the outbreak was caused by a wild bird getting into the farm is one of several possible causes under investigation.

But RSPB site manager for the Suffolk coast, Adam Rowlands, has his reservations about that particular theory.

It is business as usual Adam Rowlands RSPB

Mr Rowlands said the main types of birds which had migrated to the area over the winter were white-fronted geese from Russia and wigeons from Siberia.

"The birds we get don't tend to come from infected areas like south-east Asia," he said.

"There's been no evidence of a recent arrival to coincide with this incident. It is just speculation as we don't know the cause of the outbreak.

"As far as we're concerned it is business as usual. Wild birds just don't come into contact with humans."

'Infected areas'

Since the autumn, staff have been carrying out twice-weekly surveys of the sprawling wetlands site to check for dead birds in line with government guidelines.

RSPB officials are also planning to speak to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday to find out if they need to step up their checks.

Bird watchers visiting the reserve, hopeful of seeing one of the rare bitterns which are found at the site, said their main concern was an overreaction from the authorities.

"I just hope no-one culls a lot of wild birds," said twitcher John Birch.

It will have to be one hell of a cold for a bird's sneeze to get to us John Birch Birdwatcher

"I don't want people not feeding birds anymore in their gardens. I just hope there's no panic.

"I'm not worried about the health threat. It will have to be one hell of a cold for a bird's sneeze to get to us."

Philip Clewes-Garner, in the reserve's Bittern Hide overlooking vast reed beds, said: "I think this is a concern for everyone here.

"I don't think anything's been said about where these turkeys came from. The interesting thing is that it's broken out at a professional farm where they have checks in place.

"It's not like it's a two-bit farm. The odds of an infected wild bird falling through a ventilation shaft and coming in to contact with the turkeys must be lottery-sized."