11/08/2026
Exactly a month ago I reported the arrival in Australia of the dreaded H5 bird flu. Back then 12 cases had been reported, nearly all in Giant Petrels along with a Brown Skua unusually far north from Antarctica. At that stage only one resident native bird, a Crested Tern, had been affected. By State, the number of sites involved were WA 4, SA 10, Vic 1 and NSW 1.
Four weeks later and the situation has changed significantly. As of 11 August 2026 there are 231 cases, nearly 20 times more. In terms of cases in each State the numbers are: South Australia 163 (26 sites), Victoria 53 (6 sites), Western Australia 10 (7 sites), New South Wales 4 (3 sites) and Queensland 1.
The worst event was a mass mortality at a native Crested tern colony in South Australia, in which at least 49 dead and 35 sick birds were found: too many to sample, so the real number is likely to be much higher.
New species to be affected include an unspecified cormorant species from SA, 9 Silver Gulls in SA and Vic, an unspecified petrel species from Moreton Bay in Qld and our first land-based species, a magpie from coastal Victoria near Portland.
Worryingly, an affected Crested Tern was found near Wentworth in inland NSW.
The colours on tags here represent blue=oceanic birds, pink=native seabirds, orange=landbirds, purple=mass mortality
It is clear that cases are not always being reported and it is likely that scavenging and colony breeding have led to even greater spreading potential here.
Remember: AVOID, RECORD, REPORT.
Ring 1800 675 888 and report details, hopefully taking a video with your phone.
