SCIENTISTS have been called in after an unusually high number of dead and dying common guillemots was recorded in Argyll.
Argyll Bird Club’s Jim Dickson, of Cairnbaan, explained: ‘In Argyll, we have been getting reports of dead and dying birds around the coast, with small concentrations at the head of Loch Long, Loch Fyne and Loch Gilp, and no doubt elsewhere as well. Some birds are in poor condition and may be starving as a result of poor food availability. However, at this time of year deaths of young birds are to be expected though numbers are perhaps greater this year.’
He added: ‘There have been diseased birds affected by a virus noted elsewhere in Britain this autumn, but as yet it is unknown if Argyll birds are affected by this.’