Breaking News: Gannet Populations Face Long Recovery
Gannet populations at two major colonies are expected to take nearly two decades to recover from the 2022 bird flu outbreak. A new study by the RSPB reveals that seabirds on Bass Rock, off Scotland, and Grassholm, off Wales, experienced significant losses.
The outbreak resulted in a fourfold increase in adult gannet deaths. This led to a 26% decrease in the size of the Bass Rock colony and a 38% decline at Grassholm.
While it is already known that tens of thousands of birds died during the outbreak, the study warns that these colonies may not fully recover until at least 2041. The impact of the outbreak has been described as an “unprecedented deadly blow” to these seabird populations.
