Nest Record Scheme advice on Avian Influenza

With the recent concern about the spread of H5N1 strain of avian influenza across some parts of Europe, those who visit birds at the nest or maintain nest boxes may be wondering whether there are any precautions to be taken with regard to their activities. We refer all nest recorders to the BTO main pages for regular updates on avian influenza, as well as advice about the virus and the risk of human infection. However, we stress these main points:

- H5N1 is a disease of birds. It is of great concern for the poultry industry but does not appear to be a major issue for human health in the UK. Whilst deaths have occurred in other countries, the numbers of cases have been very low and have been confined to people in very close contact to infected poultry.

- The risk of a human contracting the H5N1 strain of avian influenza from a wild bird is remote, unless there was excessive close contact with infected birds and their excreta.

The advice given is that sensible basic hygiene should be practised if you do come into close contact with birds. With regard to precautions taken when visiting bird nests: as the risk will be the same or less than for handling and ringing birds, we refer nest recorders to the ‘Hygiene precautions for ringers’ section of the Ringing Unit's advice pages.

For those that maintain nest boxes, in view of the very slight risk, the advice we give is the same as the health and safety advice already published in the BTO Nestbox Guide: when cleaning out boxes, be careful not to inhale dust from the nest contents, avoid bringing used nest materials indoors and always wash your hands after handling used nests. However, please note that nestboxes should not be cleaned out between the start of February and the end of July.

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