Nature reserves on Isle of May and Noss to close to protect birds amid avian flu outbreak

Two nature reserves will be closed to the public from the beginning of next month to help protect vulnerable seabird populations from avian influenza.

Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot, announced that national nature reserves (NNR) the Isle of May, in the Firth of Forth, and Noss, in Shetland, which are home to hundreds of thousands of breeding birds will close on July 1 due to growing concern over the spread and impact of the current H5N1 strain of avian flu.

While round island boat trips will still be possible, visitors will not be able to come ashore.

NatureScot are also advising visitors not to take direct access onto seabird colonies on other NNRs such as Hermaness in Shetland.

The current strain of the virus is widespread across Scotland, with positive cases recorded in Shetland, Orkney, St Kilda, Lewis and St Abbs.

Large numbers of dead and sick seabirds have also been reported from Aberdeenshire, East Lothian and the west coast of Sutherland.

Great skua and gannets have been hardest hit, with sample surveys of colonies showing a 64% decline of great skua on St Kilda and 85% at Rousay in Orkney.

Great black-backed gull, Arctic tern, common guillemot and puffin have also tested positive.

The decision to restrict access to NatureScot’s two island NNRs has been taken to limit the spread of the virus through bird populations and give colonies the best possible chance of survival and recovery by reducing any additional stress.

While avian flu has been confirmed in gannets at Noss, there have been no confirmed cases on the Isle of May yet.

At other coastal NNRs such as Hermaness in Shetland, NatureScot will ask visitors not to walk through seabird colonies but to enjoy the spectacle from a distance.

Local signage will be in place at those reserves affected.

Eileen Stuart, NatureScot’s deputy director of nature and climate change, said: “The decision to close these reserves has not been taken lightly, but we are increasingly concerned about the devastating impact avian flu is having in Scotland, particularly on our seabird colonies.

“Our island reserves in particular are a haven for internationally important bird populations. The situation has been rapidly evolving and deteriorating, and we feel at this time that restricting access to these sites, and reducing it at others, is a precautionary but proportionate approach that gives us the best chance of reducing the spread of the virus and its impact.

“We recognise that this will be disappointing for those planning a visit but we hope people understand that this is about protecting our precious seabird populations for the future. Visitors will still be able to enjoy the summer seabird spectacle at both island reserves by taking round-island trips without coming ashore, and at other reserves by viewing from a short distance without crossing through colony areas. We will be keeping the situation under regular review over the coming weeks.”