H5N1: Conservation in Crisis

H5N1: Conservation in Crisis reveals the devastating reach of avian influenza—not only on wildlife but on the stewards who defend it. David Steel, the Isle of May’s manager, bears witness to the unfolding catastrophe, balancing conservation priorities with the emotional weight of loss. As the outbreak tightens its grip, the island’s once-thriving bird colonies brace for another season under siege, with the virus coursing through densely packed nesting grounds. The virus continues to propagate and mutate, prompting one overarching question: what does the future hold for seabirds—and for us?