Bird gatherings: guidance

Guidance for organisers of bird gatherings in Scotland.


Definition of a bird gathering

Bird gatherings are occasions at which birds are brought together (from different locations) for any purpose, and afterwards disperse to more than one location. This includes fairs, markets, shows, sales or exhibitions, races or meetings (for example pigeons), and traders who gather birds from different sources to be sold online.

Birds that are gathered together from different sources (such as internet sales), but remain in one location for at least 13 days after the arrival of the last bird, would not be considered a gathering.

General licence compliance

The bird gathering general licence that came into force on 21 April 2021 has now been revoked and replaced by an updated general licence, which from 15 May 2021 permits all poultry and other captive bird gatherings, including pigeon gatherings organised for races from mainland Europe, provided organisers adhere to the conditions and requirements of the licence.

Full information, conditions and requirements are available on the published general licence

Notifiable diseases

If you suspect that a bird might be suffering from avian influenza, or any other notifiable avian disease, you must contact your nearest Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office immediately – failure to do this is an offence.

The latest information on gatherings in England and  Wales is available on their websites.
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