Native birds in captivity to be vaccinated against H5 bird flu as Australia prepares for more mass mortalities

Jean Turner, a bird enthusiast, had long feared avian flu would not reach the shores of Australia. Yet, her hopes were dashed when the deadly H5 strain was confirmed just over 200 kilometers away in Robe, South Australia. Jean now joins over 120 volunteers in the Bird Observers Network, a partnership between the South Australian government, Conservation Council SA, Birds SA and Birdlife Australia. The network trains birders to identify and report sick birds displaying symptoms of H5 bird flu.

One such case occurred when Jean Turner noticed a greater crested tern trembling and swaying at the edge of a flock on the jetty near her home. Unlike the general public, birders can provide more detailed reports on potentially infected birds due to their species expertise, ability to observe abnormalities within flocks, and recognition of missing birds during routine walks.

The grim task of reporting dead wildlife is not new for South Australian birders, who have faced challenges like a toxic algal bloom that killed millions of marine creatures, one of the world's worst marine mass mortalities. Jean Turner's concerns about bird flu being even worse are valid, as the first mass mortality event was observed among greater crested terns at Baudin Rocks, where over 80 dead and sick birds were found.

To combat the outbreak, the SA government is encouraging community engagement, the agricultural industry, and the wildlife sector to bolster surveillance efforts. An environment minister, Emily Bourke, thanked birders for their assistance in surveillance and expected other states and territories to adopt similar models. The public is urged to report dead or sick animals to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, providing a photo and location details to aid in the investigation.