Seabird populations affected by HPAI H5N1 in 2022-2023 are showing variable recovery in 2026. Understanding recovery trajectories informs conservation priorities and welfare monitoring needs.
Individual seabirds in recovering colonies benefit from reduced HPAI challenge relative to the peak outbreak years, enabling more successful breeding attempts. Monitoring recovery trajectories at the individual and colony level enables identification of populations still struggling and in need of targeted conservation support. The welfare of surviving individuals in recovering colonies depends critically on prey availability and breeding site quality.