Avian Flu and Brexit Contribute to Bird Transfer at Castle Espie

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) is transferring all captive birds from its Castle Espie site in County Down due to a combination of avian influenza, increased transportation costs since Brexit, and wider cost-cutting measures. The charity announced that the site's captive bird program and guided school tours will cease, with remaining birds moved to other WWT locations across the UK by November.

Alex Lane, Director of Operations at WWT, stated that the site's captive bird collection has dwindled from approximately 500 birds to fewer than 100. "We've got a vastly reduced collection, and that's not by choice. That is the impact of avian influenza and the restrictions placed on bird movement as a result of Brexit," Lane explained.

Difficulties in transporting birds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been exacerbated by post-Brexit changes to biosecurity checks. These regulatory shifts, under the terms of the Windsor Framework, have introduced significant administrative and logistical challenges, including the requirement for an export health certificate for captive birds moving from Britain to Northern Ireland. Additionally, captive birds must undergo checks at their point of entry into Northern Ireland to safeguard animal and public health.

The closure of the captive bird program and guided school tours is part of broader cost-saving initiatives by WWT. While guided school visits will no longer be offered, the center will continue to accommodate self-guided school visits. An assembly member has expressed disappointment regarding the changes to the educational offerings.

Despite the reduction in the captive collection, Lane noted potential benefits, stating, "The intent with the site is to reset it as this hub for wetland nature conservation. We're effectively opening up more space for wild birds."