Highly pathogenic avian influenza has caused catastrophic mortality in seabird colonies globally, with welfare and conservation implications on an unprecedented scale.
HPAI causes a rapid and distressing neurological death in affected seabirds. The scale of colony mortality - sometimes tens of thousands of birds - represents mass welfare harm that is unprecedented in recent UK wildlife history. Management response is limited to biosecurity at accessible sites and monitoring; the welfare priority for live sick birds found by the public is clear guidance on safe, minimal handling until professional response.