On 20 June 2026 Australia’s first mainland case of H5N1 bird flu (clade 2.3.4.4b) was confirmed. Two cases were confirmed from around Esperance, Western Australia. A sick Brown Skua was found by chance by a vet at a remote beach, and a Giant Petrel was found in the Cape Le Grand National Park. Since then a Southern Giant Petrel in South Australia has also tested positive.
We had been lucky to have avoided the horrors this virus has inflicted on birds, and some mammals, in other parts of the world. Now it is here there are some ways that we can hopefully help to prevent the virus from spreading, help authorities to track what is happening, and help to prevent the extremely rare chance of catching it ourselves.
I have gleaned information from a range of reliable sources, including Birdlife Australia, but please confirm the information here in case I have missed something important, and in case advice changes over time.
What can we do:
- AVOID, RECORD, REPORT
- Avoid:
- Never touch sick or dead birds
- Do not touch or move sick or deceased wildlife
- Keep pets away from birds and other wildlife
- Record:
- Note the location, date and time of the sighting
- Take videos or photographs from a safe distance
- Do not approach the animal
- Report:
- Immediately report illness or mortality in wild birds to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
- It’s better to over report than to miss a genuine case
- If you have poultry or pet birds minimise their contact with wild birds
- Keep birdbaths clean, change water daily, disinfect weekly
- Do not encourage wild birds to gather – stop feeding wild birds
- Disinfect your footwear when hiking in national parks, wetlands, nature reserves and agricultural areas
Follow this site for updated information: https://birdlife.org.au/h5n1-avian-influenza/
Our wildlife has no immunity to avian influenza as Australia was isolated from outbreaks that impacted the rest of the world since 2021. There are specific concerns for Black Swans, several endangered species, marsupials and marine mammals. Hopefully… hopefully it won’t be as bad as many of us are dreading. By following the Avoid, Record, Report protocol hopefully we will be able to lessen the impact as much as possible.
A concern in Victoria is the continuation of the Stubble Quail shooting season, which is continuing until the end of this month. It’s only a few days but it should have immediately been stopped when avian flu was confirmed in South Australia. Closing weekends are often busy and with bag limits of these tiny birds at 20 a day there is a risk of the virus being brought to the suburbs. I fear we are too late to have this closed for the weekend, it should have been closed immediately the virus was confirmed, but will share Barbara’s letter below if you would like to let Victorian politicians know your thoughts.
Birdlife Australia and Birdlife Tasmania have called for the immediate cessation of permits to cull waterbirds and to stop shooting seasons.
Let’s be extra vigilant when cleaning our birdbaths, and let’s hope that we can continue to enjoy our feathered friends and help to keep them safe.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra – 11K+ followers
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
~ Etsy – prints via me at Kim Wormald lirralirra
PS Barbara, a long time follower of lirralirra, emailed this letter to me today and invited other readers to personalise it and send it to Victorian politicians:
H5N1
This avian influenza can travel long distances quickly because it is spread by BIRDS!!!! This avian influenza could be in Victoria right now. Governments need to urgently act now to stop the risk of spreading this killer influenza that is already devastating wildlife and livelihoods around the world.
Act now to protect all wildlife, agriculture and human health.
In Victoria all hunting and killing of quails must be banned immediately as shooters, their vehicles and dogs can become spreaders of this appalling and deadly disease.
This avian influenza H5N1 can live for long periods in water, mud and organic debris. Hunters moving across wetlands, damp grasslands and farm properties risk transporting the virus on their boots, clothing and vehicles spreading this virus far and wide. Dogs can carry this virus back to domestic households.
Quails lack genetic resistance to this avian influenza. Agriculture Victoria explicitly lists quail as high-risk because H5N1 causes sudden death often without any prior observable symptoms. Hunting and killing of the little native Stubble Quail must be banned immediately.
Minister Erdogan, Minister for Environment, and Minister Settle, Minister for Agriculture, you have a responsibility to act now to protect Victoria and immediately ban all hunting and killing of birds.
Ministers, this deadly avian influenza H5N1 does not stop at borders and waiting for dead birds to appear across Victoria is not a strategy.
It is a failure of leadership!!
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