Innovative research suggests Bass Rock gannet colony may be stabilising

Innovative research suggests Bass Rock gannet colony may be stabilising after avian flu outbreak New research is shedding light on the health of one of the UK’s most important seabird colonies, suggesting it may be stabilising after the devastating outbreak of avian flu in 2022.

A team of researchers from the Scottish Seabird Centre, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have been using cutting-edge technology to better understand the health of one of the world’s largest colonies of northern gannets on Bass Rock.

In a first for Bass Rock, a 2025 drone survey captured detailed images of the entire colony, enabling a manual count of approximately 52,459 nesting sites. This suggests that over 100,000 gannets may currently breed on the island each year. Although these findings indicate that numbers may have stabilised since the sharp declines seen after the 2022 avian flu outbreak, the population remains 30% below its previous size.

Researchers have also been monitoring how successfully gannets are raising chicks using remote ground-based cameras. Early results suggest breeding success remains low following the disease outbreak, possibly due to the loss of experienced adult birds and the ongoing challenges seabirds face at sea.

“It has been devastating to see the impacts of avian flu on seabirds in recent years, including on the Bass Rock where the gannet population has plummeted by almost a third. Our research suggests that the colony may now be stabilising, although breeding success remains low. It’s critical that every effort is made to reduce pressures on these incredible birds to help them recover. Working to look after the gannets on Bass Rock is a true privilege – it’s an astonishing island and home to one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles that we must conserve for future generations. I am grateful to our partners and funders, including the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund, who have supported this vital research.” Emily Burton, Conservation Manager, Scottish Seabird Centre

“It has been a great journey bringing the very latest in UAV and camera technology to provide the data for counting gannets on Bass Rock. We are delighted with the 2025 results and look forward to the coming years, and hopefully see the turning point in the colony’s numbers”

Prof. Caroline Nichol, Airborne Research and Innovation, School of Geosciences “It has been a real privilege to contribute to this research at Bass Rock alongside colleagues from the Scottish Seabird Centre, UKCEH and the University of Edinburgh. By combining drone surveys with remote camera technology, we’ve been able to gain an unprecedented level of insight into breeding success across the colony. The drone imagery has allowed us to estimate population size with far greater clarity than previously possible, making the counting process much more accurate and efficient, while the cameras have provided a uniquely detailed view of breeding behaviour - from freshly laid eggs and hatching chicks to subtle indicators of adult health, such as eye colour linked to potential avian influenza exposure. Following the devastating impacts of 2022, these technologies have been invaluable in helping us better understand how the colony is recovering, and it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of that effort.” - Sue Lewis, Edinburgh Napier University

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