Latest news with #UsutuVirus
The Guardian
6 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Share your blackbird sightings with us this summer
Blackbird populations in southern England and Greater London have plummeted in recent years. The Usutu virus, first detected in the UK in London in summer 2020, is thought to be a factor behind their decline. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has asked the British public to contribute to their Blackbirds in Gardens survey to help understand how they are faring. How are the blackbirds where you are? Have you noticed any changes in their number compared to previous years? Have they declined, increased, or stayed the same? You can tell us about your blackbird sightings using this form. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Somerset campaigner warns blackbird decline is 'taste of future'
A young ornithologist has warned a mosquito-born disease linked to a sharp decline in blackbird populations "is a taste of things to come".Mya-Rose Craig, from the Chew Valley in Somerset, says the spread of the Usutu virus is more proof British wildlife is struggling "in a way people don't realise".Ms Craig, 23, known as BirdGirlUK on social media, has been campaigning for the environment since the age of 13 and launched the Black2Nature initiative to encourage children from minority backgrounds to engage in conservation."One of the reasons [blackbird decline] concerns me is because it's getting worse because of climate change," she said. Data published earlier this week revealed Usutu has spread across most of southern England in just five years, and blackbird populations in Greater London have fallen as much as 40% in that monitoring the progress of the virus fear mosquitos will expand their range as the planet warms, spreading the diseases they Craig, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bristol in 2020, told BBC Breakfast: "My biggest concern is that blackbirds are one the most common species in the UK, they are everywhere. "When you heard bird song, it's quite often blackbirds that you are hearing, so I think it's quite upsetting." She added: "I think on top of the disease, one of the reasons it concerns me is because it's getting worse because of climate change."Because of warmer weather and increased flooding, so it feels like kind of a taste of what's to come."Ms Craig said she was a "big defender" of the UKs "small, brown" birds."I think our garden species are so special which is why I find it so worrying, the speed of decline we are experiencing at the moment," she said. "Our wildlife is really, really struggling in the UK in a way I don't think people really realise."Ms Craig added blackbirds are far from the only species to be hit by climate change, pointing out that the starling populations have fallen 80% since the does a lot of campaigning based on the mental health benefits of being close to nature."I think a lot if the time when we are talking about species decline it feels very separate, but actually imagine a city without bird song - it has a really terrible knock-on effect on people as well," she said.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Warning to anyone who sees blackbirds in their garden this summer over deadly virus decimating critical species
A WARNING has been issued to gardeners to look out for blackbirds this summer. Almost half of the species' population has been decimated from a mosquito-borne disease. 1 Scientists are now calling on UK households with gardens to monitor blackbird population. Anyone whose garden gets frequented by the bird has been asked to participate in a national research. The deadly Usutu virus has reduced the blackbird population in Greater London by 40 per cent since 2020. The disease is spreading rapidly across the UK, especially in the southern parts of England. Now, there are concerns that more mosquito-borne diseases could spread in the future. Dr Arran Folly from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told BBC: "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus. "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK." Scientists have urged the public to note how many blackbirds they see within a particular time frame and enter that information into a survey. You will also be asked to look out for any behaviours such as foraging for food. 'Intense' mystery symptoms with baseball-sized swelling in mosquito bite victims leave doctors stumped Participants are encouraged to complete one survey per week. The British Trust for Ornithology said: "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. "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 survey will run until September and takes 15 minutes to complete. It comes as gardeners have been warned to postpone one common task during Spring. The warning has even been backed by Sir David Attenborough. Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mosquito-borne killer disease threatens blackbirds
A mosquito-borne disease freshly arrived in Britain has spread large distances, with scientists racing to understand the risks to wild insects can spread the deadly Usutu virus to blackbirds, raising fears for the famous data shows Usutu has spread across much of southern England in five years, and has been linked to declines in some blackbird are monitoring its spread amid warnings that mosquitoes and the diseases they carry may expand their range under climate change."We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) told the BBC. Scientists at the APHA in Weybridge, Surrey, have been tracking mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for decades, amid warnings that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for the summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating conditions for the nuisance insects to move into areas that were previously inhospitable to 2020, all results came back clear. Then, after the summer heatwave of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," said Dr Folly."It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK."Diseases such as Usutu are a growing threat to wild birds, amid a host of other pressures, including habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. What is Usutu? Usutu virus was first detected more than half a century ago around southern Africa's Usutu RiverIt has since spread around the world, reaching Europe three decades ago, and was picked up for the first time in the UK in 2020Blackbirds are particularly susceptible to the virus, which can also infect horses and, from time to time, virus is regarded as generally of low risk to people, and there have been no human cases reported in the UK to date. The latest data shows that Usutu has spread further than the scientists has now been detected in wild birds across much of southern England, at least as far west as Dorset and as far north as big a risk Usutu poses to wild birds is uncertain. The virus has been linked to mass die-offs of blackbirds elsewhere in Europe, though that doesn't seem to be the case in the blackbird remains one of the commonest garden birds with numbers holding steady in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and in the north. To untangle the puzzle – and gather more data on blackbird numbers – the scientists have joined forces with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).They are calling for volunteers to count blackbirds in their gardens over the summer months to find out more about the comings and goings of the now blackbirds are breeding and raising their young, frequently seen hopping along the ground and singing from the branches of trees on summer evenings. Lucy Love, a garden birdwatch ambassador for the BTO, knows the blackbirds in her gardens by sight and has grown fond of them."They're beautiful birds – intelligent, friendly and they have the most beautiful song with a lovely melodic tone to it," she explained. "And we cannot lose them – they're a vital part of our ecosystem."
