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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Family, home and community
    3. Animal welfare and pets

    Birds

    Find out about registering birds, what to do if there is an outbreak of avian influenza, how the disease spreads and where to get advice on preventing avian influenza.

    Keeping birds

    All keepers of birds (except keepers of pet birds kept in the owner's home) are required to register with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). A registration form can be downloaded from the DAERA website:

    • bird registration form

    You can also contact your local DAERA Direct Regional Office for a registration form.

    All keepers of birds should keep careful watch over the health of their birds.

    • help prevent Avian Influenza - biosecurity information leaflet
    • help Prevent Avian Influenza leaflet - additional biosecurity leaflet
    • biosecurity

    Newcastle disease 

    Newcastle disease is a highly infectious disease affecting poultry and other birds. 

    If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by contacting DAERA. 

    Contact details can be found at the link below as well as how to spot Newcastle disease, how to prevent and control it, and more:

    • Newcastle disease

    Avian influenza

    Avian influenza is also described as 'bird flu'. It is an animal-disease caused by influenza A viruses. Avian influenza viruses are normally only found in birds, but may affect pigs and have been known to infect sea mammals, mink, horses and other mammals. On rare occasions some types of avian influenza viruses have infected humans.

    Avian influenza viruses can be classified according to their ability to cause severe disease (pathogenicity) as either highly pathogenic or low pathogenic. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) can cause severe disease in susceptible birds and low pathogenic avian influenza viruses - (LPAI) generally cause mild disease or no disease at all.

    Avian influenza is a poultry disease. Serious outbreaks of disease have been reported in many countries.

    How it's spread

    Avian influenza is not an air-borne disease. It is spread by movement of infected birds or contact with their secretions, particularly faeces, either directly or through contaminated objects, clothes or vehicles.

    • Avian influenza (AI)

    Finding a dead bird

    Do I need to report single dead birds? If you find one or more gulls, waders, ducks, geese and swans (webbed feet, long legs or long neck), you should contact DAERA by using the dead wild bird online reporting tool.  This Wild Bird Reporting tool covers Northern Ireland only.

    You will be asked for details of the finding and the location.

    If you find any other single dead birds, including garden birds, you don't need to contact DAERA.

    To report a dead wild bird in mainland UK go to Report dead wild birds

    When you find several dead birds

    If you find five or more dead birds of any species, other than swans, gulls, waders, ducks and geese, in the same place, you should contact DAERA by using the dead wild bird online reporting tool. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    More useful links

    • Keeping chickens 
    • Animal welfare and pets
    • RSPB guides on birds and wildlife
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    Animal welfare and pets

    • Animal welfare
    • Birds
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Horses
    • How to deal with stray animals
    • Keeping chickens
    • Pet hygiene
    • Primates
    • Rabbits
    • Travelling with your pets

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    What to do next

    Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

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    Email 
    dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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    Call 0800 587 2750 
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    customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

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    Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

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    Call 0800 587 1377

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    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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    Call 0800 587 0932

    If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

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      contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
       
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      contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

    If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

    For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

     

    For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

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    If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

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