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Robin voted UK's national bird
robin
Ornithologist David Lindo believes the UK should have a national bird like other countries.
Government asked to recognise the UK's first national bird

The robin has been voted the UK's favourite in a poll of more than 200,000 members of the British public.

Ornithologist David Lindo believes the UK should have a national bird like other countries, which is why he launched a poll in March this year.

More than 210,000 people voted online and thousands more sent in paper ballot forms, as well as the thousands of school children from hundreds of UK schools who voted.

Voting closed on the same day as the General Election and the results were finally announced last week.

Mr Lindo told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the robin is totally entwined into our national psyche - it is the Christmas card pin-up and supposed gardeners' friend."

The other top 10 birds were:
2nd - Barn owl
3rd - Blackbird
4th - Wren
5th - Red kite
6th - Kingfisher
7th - Mute swan
8th - Blue tit
9th - Hen harrier
10th - Puffin

According to BBC News, Mr Lindo now plans to ask the government to recognise the robin as the UK's national bird.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.