Conservation Matters: August 2026
- Peter Valentine
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
Peter Valentine | Conservation Officer
We are now confronting the greatest threat to our birds (and perhaps mammals) for the immediate future. I am extremely concerned, and the focus right now is on the arrival and already local spread of the H5N1 bird flu strain. Despite the Nation being well informed about its threats, and its certain arrival on our shores, the progress has seemed remarkably rapid and taken us into unknown territory.
The discovery on 1 August of local transmission from a Great Crested Tern to a Silver Gull raises the level of concern immediately. So far, although crossing species barriers, it has remained within birds here although a seal is being tested now. We can hope that is not found to be infected with this highly pathogenic virus, but overseas experience would suppress our hope. Hopes do not provide a barrier to ongoing infection and the numbers will soon be growing so fast repetition of any number will seem pointless.
We do know that only Tasmania and NT have missed a confirmation so far. On 1 August (at 2 pm) DAFF continued to claim the virus had not been found in agriculture and there was no mass mortality. Two hours later we had the report on Baudin Rocks Conservation Park (offshore from Robe in SA) where the SA Chief Veterinary Officer described a mass mortality. This followed an earlier survey of Baudin Rocks two weeks previously with no sick or dead birds present then.
On 1 August, 49 dead and 35 sick Greater Crested Terns were found in the Conservation Park. It is only about 5 km offshore. It will be important to discover what percentage of birds on the island become sick and die. Baudin Rocks was named by Flinders in honour of Nicolas Baudin, the famous French Explorer. It already has another place in history as the first identified site of mass mortality from this deadly bird flu. There will be many more sites.
As the SA Minister for the Environment noted, “this week we have seen a change from migratory birds to localised spread, and now potentially into large numbers around our coastline”. It is chilling to even contemplate the potential numbers of dead birds ahead. The fact that one affected Crested Tern was found at Monarto (well inland) gives grave cause for concern. These birds clearly travel significant distance as part of local activities and would be capable of transmitting the infections from place to place. With a record already from Queensland one horrific prospect would be an infected bird making its way to the significant sea-bird breeding islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Another question is with regard to potential transport by our migratory waders, many of whom roost with and occur on the same beaches as terns and gulls. The first arrivals of our returning waders in Australia are now being recorded and BirdLife Northern Queensland has a welcome party for the waders coming up, barely a month away. The featured bird on our FB page is the Ruddy Turnstone, a species that is commonly seen on Michaelmas Cay along with thousands of breeding sea birds. Concerns about these island colony nesting species are real.
One question of limited appreciation yet is how vulnerable are different species of Australian and migratory birds to this strain of H5 bird flu. Importantly, what is the likelihood of this bird flu to cross into local mammal species? Equally, is there any sign yet of immunity build-up?
It is also unclear what the Governments intend to do as the infection spreads. The campaign of awareness is rolling out with signage appearing along the SA coast already. But it looks like there is little direct action other than monitoring. Government activity seems more focussed on commercial poultry industrial sites with every presser to date announcing not yet recorded at a poultry farm and humans are unlikely to be affected. Typical announcement from 1st August: “There remains no H5 bird flu detections in poultry or other livestock. The risk to human health of H5 bird flu remains low.”
Three immediate actions are suggested for everyone and recommended for all of us out and about in the environment. Avoid, Record, Report. First, avoid any contact with a sick or dead bird. But do record the dead bird (notes, location, photos, context). And finally report to the emergency hotline:
1800 675 888
But if anyone wishes to get much better informed about the situation I recommend two steps. First visit the BirdLife Australia special website which is a wonderful source of excellent information and updates.
In July BirdLife brought together a wonderful array of experts and offered a terrific Webinar on this topic. Some of the contributions are very blunt but all offer excellent understanding and new actions needed. I found the webinar excellent and informative and cutting edge! You can visit it as a you-tube resource:
It is very clear that some actions will be critical. Most important is ensuring all vulnerable species are assisted to heighten resilience (by removing every additional stress factor, for example). Each jurisdiction is different and not all are contributing a sufficient investment to better prepare and protect our vulnerable wildlife populations. There are some unknowns but some of these can be addressed by considering how this virus impacted other places and species. What might work here.
Another excellent task underway is the mapping of vulnerable species and significant sites for spreading. This has been a major piece of work by Deakin University and BirdLife Australia and others. Expect more information to emerge as the spread of this major bird death expands. One useful step for all of us would be to write to our Federal members and urge the expanded investment for wildlife about to be devastated by this disease. For wildlife, not poultry or livestock. That is separate (although part of one-health). The gap remains - inadequate funds to try and ensure the loss of wildlife is as limited as it can be. And the removal of human-induced stresses on all vulnerable species ... duck-shooting is a crazy activity to be supporting right now for example.
For most of us we will never have seen anything like the coming months as the highly pathogenic bird flu strain spreads and we will be horrified by the figures that emerge. Let that be an additional motive to call on our Governments to do much better to better preserve our fabulous bird life.
