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Avian Influenza in Coastal Wetlands

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral infection affecting domestic and wild birds. In 2023, a conservation survey in a northern coastal wetland linked unusually low winter temperatures and increased wind speeds to rapid transmission rates among nesting colonies. Strong winds disperse aerosolised viral particles over greater distances, while cold conditions prolong the survival of the virus on surfaces.

In one monitored colony of northern gannets, researchers identified 1,875 birds showing clinical symptoms of infection. Out of these infected birds, 105 died over a three-week period.

Furthermore, environmental conditions influenced the birds' behaviors. During cold snaps, birds crowd together in sheltered mudflats, creating high-density nesting sites. In the subsequent mild periods, seasonal tidal flooding of more than 1.2 m creates temporary brackish pools where waterborne viral particles persist, leading to further ingestion of the pathogen.