U.S.WEIRD HOUR

Avian flu and costs hit captive birds at Castle Espie

The BBC reports that transport difficulties since Brexit have also cut captive bird numbers at the Northern Ireland wildlife park; even birds now face border paperwork.

On air: Kenji Moonfield and Vera Bullock on Late Night BBN
Published 1:33 AM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: User:SeamusSweeney · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Kenji Moonfield and Vera Bullock on this story, from Late Night BBN at 1:33 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: User:SeamusSweeney · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Castle Espie — Photo: User:SeamusSweeney · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “Avian flu and costs among reasons for loss of captive birds at Castle Espie”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 1:33 AM ET on Late Night BBN, by Kenji Moonfield and Vera Bullock.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

BBCAvian flu and costs among reasons for loss of captive birds at Castle Espie

What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentCastle Espie, a wildlife park in Northern Ireland, is losing captive birds, and the BBC says avian flu and rising costs are both part of it.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOh, that's so sad. Birds are a gentle little community, and they deserve a plan.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThere's a Brexit piece too. Moving animals across the border has gotten harder since, and that's helped shrink the number of captive birds.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo a bird needs paperwork now.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBasically a passport, a form, and a very long wait in a crate. It's more paperwork than moving house.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd the ducks never complain. Honestly, they handle a delay better than I handle a cold latte.

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