Updated Bullet Points Below

The Scottish Executive has set up a Wild Bird Risk Area through Fife, Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Angus, and Aberdeenshire.

The Area spans from the Forth Road Bridge along the M90 to Perth, from there along the A90 to Dundee, and from Dundee along the A90 to Stonehaven.

With the creation of this Risk Area certain restrictions have been invoked from The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (Scotland) Order 2006. The following have been highlighted from the Order because they will apply to pigeon fanciers within the Area. The full document can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topic...anInfluenza/SSI196 [opens in a new window].

In the following “other captive birds” refers to - a bird kept in captivity which is not poultry and includes a bird kept for shows, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or sale; i.e. this includes racing and fancy pigeons.

• Bird Movement
  • No person may move poultry or other captive birds from premises in a Wild Bird Protection Zone except under the authority of a licence granted by a veterinary inspector or an inspector acting at the direction of a veterinary inspector.
  • No person may move poultry or other captive birds in to or out of a wild bird protection zone.
    Except where:
    the movement is through the zone on a major highway or railway if no stop is made within the zone.
• Gathering of Birds
  • No person may permit any poultry or other captive birds to be collected together in a wild bird protection zone at any fair, market, show or other gathering.
• Biosecurity Measures
  This Schedule applies in respect of premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept:
  • poultry and other captive birds must be housed where possible, and if this is impractical, isolated in such a way as to minimise contact with wild birds
  • The occupier must provide and maintain means of disinfection at the entrances and exits of the premises and any buildings on the premises housing poultry or other captive birds.
  • A person entering or leaving premises:
    • must cleanse their hands
    • must not wear clothing which is visibly soiled with mud, droppings, animal or bird faeces, or any similar matter; and
    • must cleanse and disinfect the outer surfaces of his footwear in accordance with the directions of an inspector.
• Time Scale for Restrictions
  An area shall remain a wild bird protection zone until:
  • the Scottish Ministers amend the declaration ~ so that the area within its boundaries becomes part of the wild bird surveillance zone; or
  • the Scottish Ministers revoke the declaration.

Source: Scottish Executive