Gibraltar's Department of the Environment issued a notice thanking the public for reporting dead bird sightings and reassured them that the birds are being tested for avian influenza. 

At this point, authorities are working under the assumption that the birds died from avian influenza. 

"The risk to humans from avian influenza or bird flu remains low at this time," said director of public health Helen Carter. "We are taking a precautionary approach to keep this risk low and this is why we are advising the public not to feed large flocks of birds."

"There is a risk that the infection can pass from the birds to humans where there are large flocks of birds coming together," she added. "There is also the risk that the crowding together of the birds can spread the infection between them and increase the number of birds becoming ill."