Conservation groups are calling for an urgent national response to protect vulnerable waterbirds and wetlands following the detection of bird flu in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance and BirdLife Australia say the confirmation of H5N1 in a seabird in the Coorong has heightened concerns about the virus spreading through some of Australia’s most important feeding and breeding grounds.
It follows a growing number of detections among wild seabirds across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The groups are urging the Federal Government to fund emergency wetland restoration, environmental water deliveries and wildlife protection measures before the spring breeding season begins.
Their proposed response includes delivering environmental water to extend waterbird breeding events, increasing the number of available wetlands and removing barriers that prevent water from reaching floodplains.
They are also calling for a $200 million national wildlife resilience package over two years, increased surveillance of wild bird populations and the removal of avoidable pressures such as habitat destruction and the hunting of susceptible waterbird species.
Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance National Co-Director Craig Wilkins said the Basin was particularly vulnerable because of its importance to migratory and wetland birds.
“The already vulnerable Murray-Darling Basin is set to be the epicentre for bird flu impacts because it is the feeding and breeding heartland for so many migratory and wetland bird species,” Mr Wilkins said.
“Increasing environmental water delivery to more wetlands is one of the most important actions governments can take right now. The more healthy wetlands and feeding sites we have available, the more opportunities birds have to spread out and avoid concentrated outbreaks.”
BirdLife Australia Birds on Farms Monitoring Coordinator Shannon Creaney said species such as the threatened Australasian bittern were already under pressure from habitat loss and changing water conditions.
She said restoring wetlands and maintaining healthier bird populations could improve their ability to withstand emerging threats, alongside early detection and continued surveillance.
South Australia’s latest official update confirmed another 23 positive H5 bird flu results in wild seabirds, bringing the state’s total to 81 confirmed detections.
The newly confirmed cases involved greater crested terns at Southend and Robe on the Limestone Coast, as well as Harriet River, Seal Bay, Vivonne Bay and D’Estrees Bay on Kangaroo Island.
A further 28 cases remain under investigation across South Australia. There continue to be no detections in poultry or other livestock, while the risk to human health remains low.
People are advised not to touch sick or dead birds. Sightings should be recorded and reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
