THE bird section of this weekend’s Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society summer show did not go ahead following the introduction of avian-influenza restrictions.
While there were no poultry, cage birds or pigeons, Islanders were able to see rabbits and guinea pigs.
Last month, a flock of chickens was culled at a home in St Martin and a 3km radius ‘protection zone’ was implemented following two deaths, which it was confirmed had been caused by avian influenza.
Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf also enforced an Island-wide surveillance zone, meaning the bird section of the this weekend’s event could no longer take place.
Collette Bisson, president of the Jersey Poultry and Ornithological Society, said: ‘We had hoped to go ahead with the bird section of the event this year, as it had been a while since the last outbreak of bird flu and restrictions had been lifted. The outbreak near Archirondel only a matter of weeks ago meant restrictions came back.’
Last year’s bird section was also cancelled because of avian flu.
