The RDBV said it had to make the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to close its seabird rescue centers due to the risk of bird flu.
Branches across England and Wales will no longer take in injured birds such as gulls, mallards and stormbirds.
This is because the spread of bird flu is of concern, with high levels of morbidity and mortality, especially in seabirds around the coast.
Latest Defra figures have confirmed 102 cases of bird flu in England, with two cases each in Wales and Scotland earlier this year.
When bird flu is confirmed or suspected in poultry or other captive birds, control zones are established to prevent the spread of the disease.
Within these zones restrictions may apply such as keeping the birds indoors or not allowing them to move around.
There are currently two disease control zones around Bexhill and Hastings in East Sussex due to the outbreaks of the disease seen by a number of birds that have become extinct humans.
There are currently five other disease control zones in force: two in Shropshire, two in Nottinghamshire and one in Derbyshire.
The RDBV said officers would continue to attend reports of sick and injured birds but would not be able to take them back to their centers.
A spokesperson said: ‘Tragically, bird flu continues to spread at an alarming rate, with seabird populations being worst affected.
‘In an effort to prevent this highly contagious disease from killing hundreds of our wild patients, we have made the difficult decision to close our centers and branches for new seabird admissions.
‘This includes (but is not limited to) the most common seabird species: gulls, auks, terns, eels, shearwaters, malgas and stormbirds.
“Our animal rescue teams will continue to pay attention to reports of sick and injured birds.”
RDBV veterinarian Jocelyn Toner added: ‘Bird flu has a devastating impact on wild bird life across the country and our teams have been responding to calls about sick birds and doing their best to seek help for as many as possible.
‘It was devastating for our volunteers, veterinarians and staff – who work for the RDBV because they love animals – to see so many birds perish because of this horrible disease.
“It is now important that we follow the government’s advice and take action to try to slow down the spread and keep as many of our birds as safe as possible.”
Branches will still be able to take in other game.
A spokesman for the RSPCA branch in Thanet, Kent, said: ‘Such heartbreaking decisions must now be made in terms of game management.
‘Let’s hope things will improve soon without too many more beautiful birds losing their lives.
“We take in other game at the animal center if necessary, unfortunately we just can’t take in birds.”
A spokesman for the charity’s Brighton branch said they were sharing the news ‘with great sadness’.
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