The arrival of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain in Australia marks a significant challenge for wildlife. The disease has spread globally in recent years, killing millions of birds and other wild animals, and poses a serious threat to Australia’s unique and threatened biodiversity.
As managers of 40 conservation reserves across Victoria, Trust for Nature is taking proactive steps to understand potential impacts on wildlife and respond quickly if concerns arise.
As managers of 40 conservation reserves across Victoria, Trust for Nature is taking proactive steps to understand potential impacts on wildlife and respond quickly if concerns arise.
“We know this news is deeply concerning for everyone who cares about Victoria’s wildlife,” says Trust for Nature CEO Corinne Proske.
“Like many in our community, we are worried about what H5N1 could mean for some of our most vulnerable species. While there is still uncertainty about how the outbreak will develop, we are committed to monitoring our reserves closely and working alongside government agencies to help protect our precious biodiversity.”
“Like many in our community, we are worried about what H5N1 could mean for some of our most vulnerable species. While there is still uncertainty about how the outbreak will develop, we are committed to monitoring our reserves closely and working alongside government agencies to help protect our precious biodiversity.”
Targeted monitoring at high-risk reserves
Trust for Nature has identified 11 reserves for intensified monitoring and surveillance due to their extensive wetland habitats, significant waterbird populations, presence of threatened species or other important bird populations, which are considered at particularly high risk from the disease.
The reserves include Billabong West, Mount Elgin, Long Swamp, Wanderers’ Plains, Neds Corner, Tomlinson’s Swamp, Willis Reserve, Snape Reserve, Bush Family Reserve, Frair Reserve and Pallisters Reserve.
The reserves include Billabong West, Mount Elgin, Long Swamp, Wanderers’ Plains, Neds Corner, Tomlinson’s Swamp, Willis Reserve, Snape Reserve, Bush Family Reserve, Frair Reserve and Pallisters Reserve.
Staff will undertake fortnightly surveillance and site visits at the highest priority wetland sites, while a new passive acoustic monitoring program will provide continuous information about bird activity and community composition across all 11 high risk reserves.
The monitoring program has been designed to establish a baseline understanding of bird populations and track ecological changes as the outbreak develops.
“The current outbreak presents a material risk to some of our highest conservation value reserves, particularly wetlands and the waterbird communities they support,” says Dr Laurence Berry, Trust for Nature’s Senior Manager of Conservation Science.
“Using passive acoustic monitoring, we will be able to better understand any impacts on bird populations, identify affected species and gather the evidence needed to support future management decisions.”
“Using passive acoustic monitoring, we will be able to better understand any impacts on bird populations, identify affected species and gather the evidence needed to support future management decisions.”
The monitoring data will also help inform conservation investment and future funding to support wildlife recovery and resilience.
Community reports are critical
Trust for Nature is encouraging landholders and community members to follow Victorian Government advice if they discover sick or deceased birds or wildlife:
– Avoid direct contact
– Record the exact location and what is observed
– Report to Agriculture Victoria online or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
– Avoid direct contact
– Record the exact location and what is observed
– Report to Agriculture Victoria online or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
Reports should be made for:
– Clusters of five or more sick or deceased wild birds of any species anywhere in Victoria.
– Any single sick or deceased seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey.
– Any single sick or deceased marine mammal, such as a seal or dolphin.
“Landholders are often the first people to notice changes in the landscape and wildlife around them,” says Laurence.
“Their observations can provide vital early warning of disease impacts. Reporting sick or deceased wildlife is one of the most important ways people can contribute to protecting Victoria’s biodiversity during this outbreak.”
“Their observations can provide vital early warning of disease impacts. Reporting sick or deceased wildlife is one of the most important ways people can contribute to protecting Victoria’s biodiversity during this outbreak.”
Landholders with conservation covenants or Land for Wildlife properties who find sick or deceased birds should follow the detailed guidance provided by Agriculture Victoria: Managing dead birds and wildlife on your land | H5N1 avian influenza | Poultry diseases | Animal diseases | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria.
Building resilience through habitat protection
While H5N1 presents a significant new threat, protecting and restoring habitat remains one of the most effective ways to support wildlife through ongoing environmental challenges.
The arrival of bird flu adds to other pressures already facing native species, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change.
Healthy, connected habitats provide critical refuges for wildlife and help ecosystems withstand and recover from disturbances.
The arrival of bird flu adds to other pressures already facing native species, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change.
Healthy, connected habitats provide critical refuges for wildlife and help ecosystems withstand and recover from disturbances.
“This outbreak is a stark reminder of how vulnerable nature can be,” says Corinne.
“While we cannot eliminate threats like bird flu, we can make our ecosystems more resilient by reducing other pressures. Every hectare of habitat restored, every invasive species controlled and every conservation covenant established helps give wildlife a better chance of adapting and recovering.”
“While we cannot eliminate threats like bird flu, we can make our ecosystems more resilient by reducing other pressures. Every hectare of habitat restored, every invasive species controlled and every conservation covenant established helps give wildlife a better chance of adapting and recovering.”
Corinne says Victoria’s community of conservation-minded landholders has a vital role to play.
“Thousands of landholders across Victoria are already making an extraordinary contribution by protecting and restoring native habitat on their properties,” she says.
“Private land conservation is one of the most powerful tools we have for addressing biodiversity loss and building resilience to future challenges. Every patch of nature protected forever helps create stronger, healthier landscapes for wildlife.”
“Private land conservation is one of the most powerful tools we have for addressing biodiversity loss and building resilience to future challenges. Every patch of nature protected forever helps create stronger, healthier landscapes for wildlife.”
For more information about H5 bird flu, visit Agriculture Victoria’s About H5 Bird Flu webpage. To view wildlife cases reported in Victoria and locations where H5 bird flu has been detected, visit Agriculture Victoria’s interactive wildlife disease map. Landholders and community members are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases.
For media inquiries, contact communications@tfn.org.au.
All photography by Ben Williams (Wild East Gippsland)
For media inquiries, contact communications@tfn.org.au.
All photography by Ben Williams (Wild East Gippsland)
