Guillemots, kittiwakes and tern populations have been the worst hit species, according to NatureScot.
Guillemots, kittiwakes and terns in Scotland have suffered "huge losses" this summer due to avian flu, according to Scotland's nature agency.
NatureScot said that a degree of natural mortality is normal among tern chicks, but the scale and sudden nature of avian flu-related deaths this past summer has been unusual. Following a quiet start to spring this year, a sudden increase in mortalities began in June and reached a peak in mid-July when around 2,300 sick and dead birds were reported to NatureScot in a two-week period.The highest number of reported mortalities were among guillemots, a seabird of the auk family - 3,519 deaths were reported over the summer.
"But other species, such as kittiwakes and terns that were impacted last year, have still been greatly affected this year."The agency said many seabirds are already experiencing multiple pressures and population declines and they are trying to understand why some species have been hit harder than others.
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