Biodiversity Victor Harbor

03/09/2026

South Australia continues to respond to detections of H5 bird flu across the state.

To help keep communities informed, the South Australian Government is hosting a community forum in Willunga on Monday 21 September, from 6pm.
Hear from government leaders and experts including the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water and Minister for Tourism, the Hon Emily Bourke MLC, and representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Department for Environment and Water and SA Health.

This is an opportunity to learn more about H5 bird flu, the preparedness measures currently in place as well as the animal, human and environmental health considerations.

This forum is free and open to the public. Registration is essential due to venue capacity.

Follow the link to find out more and register to attend: www.birdflu.sa.gov.au/community-forums

Visit birdflu.sa.gov.au for the latest updates.

18/08/2026

Birds are so much more than beautiful visitors to our gardens, wetlands, coastlines and landscapes. 🐦🌿
They play vital roles in healthy ecosystems — from pollinating plants and dispersing seeds, to controlling insects and helping nutrients move through our environment. When bird populations decline, the impacts can extend far beyond the birds themselves and affect the ecosystems and habitats we all depend on.

That’s why this article from The Conversation is worth a read. It explores how bird flu could threaten not only birds, but also the places and ecosystems they are an important part of.

👉 From the coasts to the plains: bird flu could threaten not just birds, but their homes

Protecting birds means protecting the ecosystems they help keep healthy. 💚

If you see a sick bird:

Avoid: Stay away from the bird and keep your pets and children away. Do not touch or move the bird.

Record: Write down the exact location, the number of birds, and what symptoms you see. Take a photo or video from a safe distance if possible.

Report: Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or report online via birdflu.gov.au.



https://theconversation.com/from-the-coasts-to-the-plains-bird-flu-could-threaten-not-just-birds-but-their-homes-289709

From raucous honeyeaters to top predators, Australia’s birds are vital to nature.

14/08/2026

🌱 Take action for local nature, right here in Victor Harbor.

Whether you've got a green thumb, a love of wildlife, or you simply want to make a difference in your own backyard, there's a place for you at Biodiversity Victor Harbor.

We're a local community group passionate about protecting and restoring the nature that makes our region so special, and we'd love for you to be part of it. It's completely free to join, and you can get involved as much or as little as you like, whether that's attending a working bee once a year or diving in regularly.

Every new member helps us grow our impact.

No experience needed, just a willingness to get involved. Come along, meet like-minded locals, and help us take real, positive action for the environment we all call home. 💚

Know someone who'd love this? Tag them below or share this post with your networks, let's grow this community together!

👉 Join us today https://www.biodiversityvictor.org.au/membership

13/08/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Lou Nicholson MP, Member for Finniss, as guest speaker at our upcoming Biodiversity Victor Harbor General Meeting.

Lou will share her environmental vision for the region, including her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the Fleurieu. There will also be plenty of opportunity for questions and conversation with Lou.

Following Lou’s presentation, Biodiversity Victor Harbor will hold a brief General Meeting, before members and guests are invited to stay for a meal and informal discussion.

📅 Monday 7 September 2026
⏰ 5:15pm
📍 Crown Hotel, 2 Ocean Street, Victor Harbor
🎟️ Free event — registration required

Come along, hear Lou’s vision for the Fleurieu, and join the conversation about the environmental issues that matter to our region.

👉 Register here:
https://www.biodiversityvictor.org.au/index.cfm?module=event&pagemode=indiv&page_id=3069859

We’d love to see you there!

12/08/2026

🌿 Celebrating the people behind our environmental groups 🌿
We have some fantastic environmental groups working across the South Coast. At the heart of each one are often two or three people who are the “glue” — the people who organise, encourage and enthuse others to get involved and achieve some wonderful outcomes for our environment.
At the heart of the Friends of the Hindmarsh River Estuary is Ann, who has been a member since the group’s inception.
You might see Ann out and about along the river, sometimes two or three times a day on her motorised scooter, planting seedlings, tending to young plants and keeping an eye on how things are progressing.
But what you don’t see is the time, energy and commitment Ann puts in behind the scenes to help make it all happen. 🌱
We managed to snap Ann taking a moment to look out over the Billabong — perhaps contemplating what the next project might be to preserve, protect and enhance the biodiversity of this wonderful river corridor.

So, Ann, this is a big community thank you to you — and to all the wonderful volunteers of the Friends of the Hindmarsh River Estuary. 💚
Your dedication to caring for this valuable ecological corridor is making a real difference, and it is greatly appreciated.
👏 Thank you, Ann, and thank you Friends of the Hindmarsh River Estuary!

10/08/2026

09/08/2026

🦀🦐🐟 These mussel mats are already becoming little marine neighbourhoods!

Just six months into the Encounter Bay mussel reef restoration trial, monitoring has revealed a fascinating community taking up residence on the mats — including snapping shrimp, rock crabs, spider crabs, amphipods, worms, pipefish, gobies, weedfish, clams, sponges and even young sea nymphs.

While we’re still waiting to see whether scorched mussels settle in significant numbers, these early results are an encouraging sign that the mats are providing valuable habitat and attracting a surprising variety of marine life.

So, what exactly has been found living on the mats so far — and what could it mean for the future of Encounter Bay?

👉 Read the full story on the Biodiversity Victor Harbor website.
https://www.biodiversityvictor.org.au/index.cfm?module=news&pagemode=indiv&page_id=6866637