Dog walkers advised to be aware of high number of bird carcasses on Donegal beach

A community group has issued an alert to dog walkers following the discovery of 17 bird carcasses on Murvagh Beach.

While the occasional bird carcass is inevitable on beaches, this is an exceptionally high number to be counted on one beach on a single day. 

The area is very popular with walkers, and many people take their dogs to Murvagh to enjoy the extensive beach. 

Friends of Murvagh Beach is advising: “Dog owners please be aware. The carcasses of 17 dead birds were counted on Murvagh Beach yesterday. This information has been reported to the Department of Agriculture. 

“Dog owners are advised to keep their pets away from the carcasses. Any further sightings can also be reported via Avian Check.”

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Anyone who comes across dead wild birds is encouraged to report the finding via the Avian Check app.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has issued the following safety information on its website: “Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds. 

“Dogs should be kept on a leash in areas where sick or dead wild birds are present.

“Please note, the Department is unable to collect, remove or provide treatment to sick wild birds. Whilst the Department values notification of all wild bird deaths, we carry out targeted surveillance testing of dead wild birds in order to inform the risk to poultry and captive birds. Therefore, not all birds will be collected for testing.

“Where dead wild birds are present on public lands e.g. beaches, and removal of the carcasses is required / appropriate, we request that the reporter contacts their Local Authority. 

“Where dead wild birds are present on private lands, it is the landowner’s responsibility to remove them, where appropriate.”

Advice on safe disposal of wild birds can be found on www.gov.ie/birdflu.

Anyone who uses the Avian Check App to report dead birds is assured that, under data protection legislation, any information is used only in relation to recording of such sightings. People are also advised that the app is only to be used for reporting dead wild birds. 

According to the department’s website: “If you suspect the presence of Avian Influenza in a poultry or captive bird flock you must notify your Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) or the Avian Influenza Hotline on 01 607 2512 open from 9am to 6pm without delay. 

“Outside of office hours, you can ring the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026, which is operational 365 days of the year, to report a suspect case in poultry or captive birds.”