As a precaution following confirmed cases of bird flu in northern Germany, the Hamburg-Nord district office moved around 100 Alster swans to the to their winter quarters on Friday, 30 October 2026. The usual public round-up was cancelled this year for infection-control reasons. The city’s swans department will care for the birds until the weather and disease situation allow them to return to the Alster .
The decision follows an exceptionally long bird flu season in 2025/2026, during which Hamburg repeated cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus were reported. According to the authorities, the priority is to protect the Alster swans, which are an iconic feature of the city, and to minimise possible routes of transmission in busy central areas. In spring 2026, the birds’ return to the Alster had already been delayed after several positive test results were recorded in wild birds in the region.
The swans department coordinated the move with the relevant veterinary services. The birds were gathered in small groups, checked by a vet and transferred to secure accommodation. They will remain there until the risk to the swans and other wild birds has fallen sufficiently. No specific return date has been given; the relevant authorities will decide based on how the risk develops.
The measure falls under existing rules on handling poultry and wild birds when cases of avian influenza are detected. Municipal veterinary offices carry out ongoing monitoring, arrange testing of dead birds and, when necessary, publish hygiene advice for the public. In previous notices, Hamburg’s Senate had highlighted the winter quarters’ particular role in care and quarantine.
In the short term, the move will chiefly give the birds peace and protection. As a result, the traditional sight of Alster swans on the lake during the winter months will be lost. Whether further restrictions on poultry events or additional monitoring zones are needed will depend on new findings. The relevant veterinary authorities will publish assessments of the outbreak and its risks as new data becomes available.
The Alster swans are considered an important part of Hamburg’s identity. By moving them to winter quarters as a precaution, the city is continuing its policy of protecting this long-standing group of birds from disease risks at an early stage, while adapting established swans-department procedures to the current situation.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).