Bird flu has arrived in Victoria – and it could spell disaster for wild bird populations

H5 bird flu (H5N1) is a strain of highly infectious influenza that can affect wild, farmed, and pet birds, and can be transmitted to mammals. 

Large-scale outbreaks of H5 bird flu have killed millions of wild birds and tens of thousands of mammals around the world – pushing already vulnerable species closer to extinction. Until June this year, Australia and New Zealand had remained free of the virus.

Where have confirmed bird flu cases been found?

The most recent update from the Victorian Agriculture Department on August 20 says there are over 100 confirmed cases of bird flu in Victoria, including one in Clyde in Western Port Bay, just south-east of Melbourne. Positive cases have been detected from Portland to Phillip Island, to East Gippsland, and even inland near Mildura.  

Within only a few weeks of the first detection in Victoria on July 30, numbers of cases have rapidly risen, with numbers of deaths expected to grow significantly. Many important populations of birds across key coastal regions, rivers, and wetlands are likely to be impacted. 

What are the potential impacts on wild birds in Victoria?

The threat of H5 bird flu to native birdlife is alarming. We could see whole populations of native bird species like black swans, which are highly susceptible, impacted. According to experts, other species, including endangered marine mammals like elephant seals, are also at risk. This could become a genuine wildlife emergency, and it must be treated with emergency funding and immediate action to protect native bird species and their habitat.  

All of the birds from Environment Victoria’s ‘Doomed Without a Drink‘ report released July 2023 are on the Federal government’s bird flu risk assessment list. Only one has low susceptibility (Inland Dotterel), and nearly half are at a high to very high susceptibility, and most species have a high to very high national risk score. 

Western Port Bay is one of Victoria’s remaining strongholds and important breeding and refuge areas for a number of threatened and vulnerable marine and coastal species. Its wetlands and surrounding waters provide habitat for internationally significant migratory shorebirds, seabirds, waterbirds and marine mammals, including species identified in the Australian Government’s national H5 bird-flu risk assessment. 

The state government recently announced they would be vaccinating critical Little Penguin populations on Phillip Island and St Kilda, but sadly, there have already been positive cases of the virus in penguins on Phillip Island. The species is highly susceptible to the H5N1 virus.  

What can be done to tackle this crisis?

The best thing the Victorian state government can do now is strengthen the resilience of native species, fund frontline interventions, and stop any avoidable threats to native bird species 

We have serious concerns about whether the Victorian Government is adequately prepared to respond, especially given the cuts of more than 300 Environment Department staff and rangers in recent years. This has reduced the capacity for frontline monitoring, management, and response at a time when emerging threats such as bird flu require resources on the ground. 

Healthy habitats also support stronger bird populations. Restored wetlands, protected breeding sites and well-connected landscapes give birds the best possible chance to withstand disease outbreaks and recover when disaster strikes.