04/08/2026
H5N1 Bird Flu and Australian Wildlife
With reported bird flu cases rising nationwide, government, conservation and wildlife groups are focusing on what we can do to further prepare, recognize, and report cases and stem hysteria.
Bird flu has not reached our region yet and it is very disappointing that some vets have closed their doors to birds when it has not even reached our region.
I will try to condense the information from a recent Webinar from the Biodiversity Council. Anyone interested in listening to the webinar here is the link.
https://biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/webinar-h5n1-bird-flu-and-australian-wildlife
The first speaker, Michelle Wille is very interesting and informative, and I will summarize the information she has given. All credit for the information and the screenshots to Michelle Wille
The Virus – how it is different to previous avian flu virus.
There is an enormous diversity of HA and NA combinations. Normally low pathogen avian flu viruses are found during surveillance of birds in Australia and overseas. Low pathogen viruses do not cause any disease in the wild birds that they are found in. These low pathogen viruses are not the problem, the high pathogen viruses are, and this virus is H5N1 – 2.3.3.4.b variant is a high pathogen virus.
In 1996 there was an outbreak of H5N1 in poultry and it evolved from a low pathogenic virus to a high pathogenic virus which resulted in a high rate of disease and death in poultry and in wildlife.
Now that this new variant has emerged the whole situation has changed. Now we have a virus that has spilled over to mammals including seals and cows and onto a huge diversity of other animals, which has led to the global animal pandemic we are in.
This variant started in Europe in 2020 and has spread around the world. See attached screenshot – credit Michelle Wille
Summary
This variant of avian flu is NOT, I repeat NOT just found in birds, but can also be found in cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and cats. University of Sydney have an excellent article – Scavenger Animals are the missing link in Australia’s bird flu response https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2026/07/08/scavenger-animals-missing-link-australia-bird-flu-response.html
In their article they say that ‘The H5N1 strain can survive in infected carcasses for up to 30 days at 20C and up to 240 days at 4C. So I t is important to report dead carcasses.
Animals at High Risk
- The virus is most likely to be found in scavenging birds such as seagulls, and birds of prey that scavenge such as Sea Eagles, all Kites, Crows etc
- Land scavengers like foxes, who unfortunately will spread the disease in their travels. Feral Cats, Feral Pigs, Rats and domestic cats and dogs.
- Other animals that scavenge such as Quolls, Possums, Lace and Sand Monitors.
Animals at Low Risk
- Parrots, Honeyeaters, Doves, Swallows and other general back yard birds are NOT scavengers including Owls and Frogmouths. Therefore they are unlikely to have bird flu virus. However IF these birds were to come into contact with infected animals then they would become infected.
Therefore -
- a baby bird that has fallen from nest is unlikely to have bird flu and is in need of help.
- a bird that has been hit by a car and has a concussion or a broken wing is unlikely to have bird flu and is in need of help.
We need to continue to be decent human beings and assist wildlife when they become injured, especially when it is due to human activity. We ALL need to work together to Record and Report all suspected bird flu cases , but COMMON SENSE needs to be used to first of all try to determine if the bird we are looking at, especially around our homes and on the roads, is injured and in need of rescuing.
Use a towel, carry a box and a towel and gloves in your car if possible so that you are equipped to handle any situation. Keep the bird away from your face, your children and any pets and hand it into care as soon as possible.
Humans – are at very low risk of contracting bird flu, but all caution needs to be taken if you come across any of the birds that are at high risk, and be aware of what your dog is coming into contact with when out on walks.
