‘The lake has gone very quiet’

Gull population wiped out by bird flu

The black-headed gull population in Dromineer has been practically wiped out by bird flu, locals have said.

The Department of Agriculture recently confirmed the detection of H5N1 Avian Influenza in the Dromineer area and is warning the public against handling dead or sick birds. Tipperary Co Council staff have removed a number of carcasses, and local councillor Joe Hannigan is advising anyone who finds any more dead birds in the area to contact the council.

But it appears that the black-headed gull population - which numbered upwards of 50 at the start of the year - has been reduced to just three as a result of the flu. Local man David Wilkinson has been monitoring the rapid decline of the birds in Dromineer. He began reporting his discoveries of their carcasses to the Dept of Agriculture several weeks ago.

Mr Wilkinson regretted that only a small number of black-headed gulls are now present in the area. They are roosting in the vicinity of Lough Derg Yacht Club, having previously been based at the Canal Store. He found two more dead gulls last Saturday.

“That's nearly them all gone now,” Mr Wilkinson said. “The lake has gone very quiet.”

He expressed concern for local wildlife, pointing out that the flu has been known to transfer to other kinds of birds; it was found in the remains of one of Lough Derg's rare white-tailed sea eagles located near Portumna in 2018.

“One of the reasons we were worried about Dromineer is that it's unusual to have a sea gull colony living beside human habitation,” Mr Wilkinson said. “Most sea gull colonies are isolated.”

The black-headed gull is a migrant bird resident along all Irish coasts, with significant numbers arriving from the European continent in winter. Smaller than the common gull, they often move to inland lakes to breed and nest in colonies. According to Birdwatch Ireland, black-headed gull numbers breeding inland have declined dramatically, probably due to predation by the American Mink.

THIRTY DEAD IN A WEEK

Across the lake at Urra, local man Nickey Flannery counted up to 30 dead gulls along a hundred-yard stretch of the lakeshore near his home in the space of a week. As well as dead birds, he encountered one that was “almost in a coma. He was literally dying on his feet,” Mr Flannery said.

He explained that all of the birds were black-headed gulls; some of them don't get their black head until they mature. He has heard of more dead birds being found around other parts of the lake.

Mr Flannery contacted Cllr Hannigan about the situation. He said two members of the county council's Environment team came out last Thursday with masks, gloves and long-range pickers, and removed all of the bird carcasses.

Thanking all involved, Mr Flannery also expressed concern over the potential for the flu to spread among the local wildlife.

“Our concern is that there are so many other birds resident in that area,” he said. “Right now, I know that there is nesting mallard, tufted duck, coots, moorhens, even the kingfisher.

“They are all there and they frequent that area all the time. We see them every day.

“But if this thing is contagious, they are all being threatened and they are probably in danger. We don't know how contagious it is.”

Cllr Hannigan said he has been contacted by a number of people over discoveries of the dead birds in the Dromineer bay area. He has liaised with Tipperary Co Council's Environment Section, along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture.

The local councillor said an arrangement has been put in place for the local authority to take the lead on collecting the dead bird carcasses for incineration.

Cllr Hannigan referred to advice issued last week by the Dept of Agriculture, indicating that the risk to humans is very low but that members of the public should not handle sick or dead wild birds, and that dogs should be kept on a leash in areas with sick or dead wild birds.

“There is a dedicated team to deal with the issue,” Cllr Hannigan said. “You can ring the council and look for the Environment Section, or tell the switch what your issue is and they will put you through to the appropriate person. There is a plan in place to deal with the situation.”