Avian flu and costs among reasons for loss of captive birds at Castle Espie

Bird migration is a visible annual event at Castle Espie Avian flu, cost-cutting and Brexit are among the reasons behind the transfer of captive birds from one of Northern Ireland's best-known wildlife sites, according to the charity that runs it.

Director of Operations at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Alex Lane said avian influenza, as well as difficulties in transporting birds since Brexit, has contributed to the decline in the number of captive birds at Castle Espie.

The closure of both the site's captive bird programme and guided school tour programme is part of wider WWT cost-cutting measures. An Assembly member has described the changes to the education offering as "disappointing".

Alex Lane said the site used to have around 500 birds in its captive collection - but, a combination of Brexit and avian influenza means today, there are fewer than 100.

Both the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been contacted for comment. From November onwards, all captive birds at Castle Espie will be transferred to other WWT sites across the UK.

The centre, which is located in County Down, will also no longer offer guided school tours. However, the centre have said they will "continue to welcome self-guided school visits". The centre has different types of wetlands

Castle Espie, which is managed by the WWT, is located on the shores of Strangford Lough, just outside Comber. The reserve is a safe haven for native and exotic birds, ducks and geese, and some of its collection including globally at-risk species.

It has different types of wetlands, including freshwater and sailing lagoons as well as seasonally flooded areas. Cara Hunter said the "loss of guided educational visits is disappointing"

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who sits on the Stormont education committee, told BBC News NI that the "loss of guided educational visits is disappointing".

"Castle Espie has played an important role in introducing generations of young people to nature, conservation and the unique environment on their doorstep.

"I would be concerned that these changes could reduce opportunities for schools, particularly those with limited resources, to access high-quality environmental education."

The MLA added that "opportunities that educate, inspire and broaden horizons are quietly lost while Stormont remains distracted from the issues that matter most to families". Captive mallards at the Castle Espie site Castle Espie will cease to offer its formal education offer

Alex Lane, Director of Operations at WWT, said rising costs and the challenge around income means charities like the WWT are facing "increasing pressure". "We've got a sizeable deficit and obviously that's unsustainable in the long term," she told BBC News NI.

Lane said it is important the WWT have surplus income so that they can "do the conservation work that is part of their mission". She said the site used to have over 500 birds in its captive collection - but, in part due to avian influenza, today there are less than 100.

The reserve is a safe haven for native and exotic birds Lane added that another factor in the decline in the number of captive birds is the increased difficulties in transporting birds since Brexit. "There is no aligned system for bringing birds into Ireland from mainland UK.

"We've got a vastly reduced collection, and that's not by choice. That is the impact of avian influenza and the restrictions placed on bird movement as a result of Brexit."

It is thought that diverging post-Brexit bio-security checks has increased red tape for moving birds between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Under the strict mandates of the Windsor Framework, these regulatory shifts also mean heavy administrative and logistical costs.

According to the UK Government'sofficial website,external, the movement of captive birds from Britain to Northern Ireland requires an export health certificate.

There is also a requirement for captive birds to be checked at the point of entry when transported to Northern Ireland, to protect animal health and welfare and public health. However, Lane said there will be benefits to the decommissioning of the captive bird collection.

"The intent with the site is to reset it as this hub for wetland nature conservation. "We're effectively opening up more space for wild birds." A curlew at the Castle Espie site Lane said the site "needs to stop" its formal education offering in part due to financial pressures WWT faces.

She added that there is also an insufficient number of schools booking guided tours at the site to cover costs. Lane said the low number of school visits may be partly be caused by the cost of transport. Marine strategy must deliver action for seabirds, charity says

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