Please read the below information provided by NPWS re Avian Flu. It will become important in the near future, as the Shearwaters are due to arrive back roughly in the next 4 weeks.
We write with an update for wildlife rehabilitators on shearwater mortalities and H5 bird flu precautions. This information has been endorsed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) as the lead for biosecurity emergency response in NSW. NSW DCCEEW has maintained dedicated resources to prepare for H5 bird flu in wildlife since early September 2024, to ensure our efforts are aligned with the whole of government approach and to consider the needs of our staff, visitors and key stakeholders.
Shearwater mortalities and H5 bird flu
Many of you will be aware that the annual shearwater migration is underway, and that NSW may soon experience typical, seasonal shearwater mortalities along the coast. Unfortunately, mortality is a natural part of these long migration events, and can sometimes present as ‘wrecks’, where hundreds of dead birds are found washed up on beaches. These large-scale mortality events typically coincide with unusually warm sea temperatures in the East Australian Current. Shearwaters rely on food resources such as krill, crustaceans, squid and fish and warm sea temperatures on the continental shelf can push their preferred diet further offshore, leading to starvation.
Rehabilitation and recovery of shearwaters that are depleted following their long migration is extremely difficult and mortality is very high, even when taken into care. Birds may be suffering emaciation, dehydration or metabolic dysfunction, all of which are very difficult to reverse and treat.
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, H5 bird flu, is causing mass wildlife mortalities overseas, particularly among migrating seabirds and shorebirds. While Australia currently remains free of H5 bird flu it is important that we are all vigilant for potential incursion. Wildlife rehabilitators can play a key role in early detection, but it is vital you know what to look for, how to report and how to keep yourselves safe. Here is some important information:
What is bird flu?
Bird flu is a disease that affects birds (wild and domestic) and some mammals around the world. There are many types of bird flu, but H5 bird flu is a serious and highly contagious strain that has resulted in mass mortality in wildlife overseas. It is expected that H5 bird flu will eventually be carried to Australia, most likely by migrating sea and shorebirds.
H5 bird flu is likely to have significant impacts on wildlife and agriculture industries in Australia, especially poultry. The flow on effects to communities are also likely to be significant. Information to help volunteer wildlife rehabilitators recognise the signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu can be found here: Avian influenza | Department of Primary Industries
*Surveillance and testing*
In NSW, DPIRD conducts routine surveillance for avian influenzas through the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird (NAIWB) Surveillance Program. In addition, the NSW DPIRD is continuously monitoring reports of shearwater and other bird mortalities received via the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) hotline. In 2024, NSW DPIRD undertook additional, strategic surveillance and testing of shearwaters. No birds were found to be carrying H5 bird flu.
Sampling and testing for H5 bird flu and other notifiable diseases is a cornerstone of NSW’s emergency animal disease surveillance and allows the NSW Government to be responsive to public reports and the results of exclusion testing.
*Keeping safe interacting with wildlife*
NSW Government advice for people encountering any animals (domestic or wild) that are showing clinical signs consistent with H5 bird flu is:
AVOID contact with the wildlife or birds,
RECORD time date and location and other evidence (e.g. photos, video), and
REPORT any unusual sickness or multiple deaths in wildlife via the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888.
This advice also applies during the shearwater migration and so the NSW Government asks that the public and licenced wildlife rehabilitators do not handle sick or dead shearwaters.
At any time, when working around sick or dead wildlife, people are reminded to practice good biosecurity and hygiene, including wearing PPE which as a minimum would include gloves, P2 or equivalent respirator masks, and safety glasses or face shields.
Reporting advice for wildlife rehabilitators
Shearwaters only: Report 5 or more dead shearwaters to the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888*
Please note that in 2024 reporting thresholds were amended to 50 or more dead shearwaters mid-way through the migration season. This was in response to testing that confirmed shearwaters were NOT carrying H5 bird flu and to help manage the high volume of reports received due to the unusually large wrecks experienced in 2024. The NSW Government will provide regular updates to the sector throughout the 2025 shearwater migration, including any change to reporting thresholds.
For other wildlife species, also report to the EAD hotline when you see:
o More than 1 sick or dead seabird, waterbird, shorebird, bird of prey or marine mammal (seals, sea lions or dolphins), or
o Clusters of 5 or more sick or dead wild birds of any species.
Continue Business as Usual
The role of the wildlife rehabilitation sector in providing care to injured, sick or orphaned wildlife is critical to the conservation of NSW fauna.
With the current risk of H5 bird flu arriving in Australia, it is important for rehabilitators to consider how best to maintain good biosecurity at their premises to ensure they do not risk the health of wildlife in their care. This may include careful consideration of accepting wildlife, including depleted shearwaters, that typically have a very poor prognosis for recovery.
If other wildlife is reported to you as suffering from trauma or injury there is no need to call the EAD hotline. Rehabilitation can be managed as usual.
The public is being advised not to touch sick or dead shearwaters and to keep pets away, including preventing them from mouthing or scavenging birds. You can help the NSW Government by reinforcing this message wherever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) document is being designed to support you communicating with your members, and members of the public about H5 bird flu and the shearwater migration season. Once available, you may wish to use this material to develop ‘scripts’ to support consistent messaging to members of the public who call you about shearwaters or H5 bird flu.
Where can I get more information?
HPAI information session for wildlife rehabilitators, 11 July 2024:
https://youtu.be/_kNWfqPsz3s (while information shared in this webinar is current at the time of writing, please note that it may change over time)
Wildlife Health Australia H5 bird flu Resources page: H5 bird flu
