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

Avian flu, cost-cutting measures, and the impact of Brexit have led to the reduction of captive birds at Castle Espie, one of Northern Ireland's most renowned wildlife sites, according to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Director of Operations Alex Lane revealed that avian influenza and the challenges of transporting birds since Brexit have contributed to the decrease in the number of captive birds at the Castle Espie site.

The closure of the captive bird program and guided school tour program is part of WWT's broader cost-cutting initiatives. Castle Espie previously housed around 500 birds, but due to a combination of avian influenza and Brexit-related transportation difficulties, there are now fewer than 100 captive birds remaining. Both the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been approached for comment.

From November, all captive birds at Castle Espie will be relocated to other WWT sites across the UK, and the center will no longer offer guided school tours, though self-guided visits will still be permitted. SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who chairs the Stormont education committee, expressed disappointment over the loss of guided educational visits, emphasizing that Castle Espie has been instrumental in introducing young people to nature and conservation.

Lane explained that the site is transitioning to focus on wetland nature conservation, with the aim of creating more space for wild birds. The decommissioning of the captive bird collection is intended to address financial pressures, as WWT faces a sizeable deficit and requires surplus income to sustain its conservation efforts.

The increased complexity of moving birds across the border post-Brexit has also added to the challenges faced by the site.