Reports of avian influenza are getting closer and closer to us and in many areas that we regularly admit animals from. We therefore will not be admitting high risk bird species from certain areas which will be assessed on the phone before a bird is brought into our care.

The main groups of high risk bird species are as follows:

– All waterfowl – including ducks, swans, geese

– Seabirds

– Gulls

– Birds of prey

This is not a limited list of the birds that can suffer from avian influenza and so an assessment over the phone will be completed before you are able to bring the bird into us.

Please ALWAYS phone for advice of any birds before you bring them in to us. We may not be able to take the animal into our care but advice will be given for alternative options.

If you are asked to bring the bird into us, when you arrive on site you MUST remain in your car and call us from the car park. Then, either a member of staff will then come out to you and an assessment of the bird will be completed in the car park, or further instruction of where to go will be given. This depends on the bird species and situation.

If you see any visibly sick birds or dead birds, please do NOT touch them.

Any deceased birds as follows must be reported to DEFRA on 03459 33 55 77:

• one or more dead bird of prey or owl
• 3 or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks)
• 5 or more dead birds of any species

Thank you