Households with blackbirds in their gardens asked to help monitor spread of virus
Households with blackbirds in their gardens asked to help monitor spread of virus
The Usutu virus is spread through the blackbird population by infected mosquitoes
Blackbirds are a common sight in many gardens
(Image: (Image: Getty) )
Scientists are urging UK households to aid in the monitoring of a mosquito-borne disease that's been affecting blackbirds, inviting anyone with these birds visiting their garden to participate in national research focused on evaluating the health of native bird populations.
The Usutu virus, capable of being transferred by mosquitoes to blackbirds, has seen rapid proliferation in the UK, and particularly in the southern regions. Concerns rise as certain blackbird groups experience noticeable declines, sparking worry about the future of these cherished songsters.
Experts are keeping a vigilant eye on this issue, noting that climate change holds the potential for mosquitoes and the viruses they bear to broaden their territorial span. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here.
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To gain deeper insights into how the Usutu virus is impacting local blackbird populations, scientists are encouraging those who spot blackbirds in their gardens to engage in a specific counting scheme. The initiative has just been set in motion and will continue until September. Sign-up for anyone interested in helping can be found here.
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The British Trust for Ornithology states: "The Blackbirds in Gardens project will help us understand how Blackbirds use gardens, and the potential effects of the Usutu virus on their population in the UK.", reports Bristol Live. "If you have access to a garden, have an interest in garden birds and can recognise a Blackbird by sight, then this survey could be for you!"
The public is being asked to count the number of blackbirds they spot within a certain time frame, as well as noting down specific behaviours that scientists are keen to study, such as foraging for food or using a pond or puddle. Participants are encouraged to aim for one 15-minute survey per week throughout the duration of the project.
A common blackbird perches on a tree branch
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
The initiative is part of the Vector-Borne RADAR scheme, a joint effort with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Zoological Society of London. "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) revealed to the BBC.
The APHA experts, who are based in Weybridge, Surrey, have been keeping an eye on mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for years, due to growing concerns that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for these insects.
This virus has made its way around the world and arrived in Europe three decades ago. However, in the UK, all test results were negative until 2020. Following the heatwave in the summer of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London.
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"Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," Dr Folly disclosed. "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK."
Anyone interested in participating can sign up here.
For more home and garden stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
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