H5 bird flu detected in Silver Gull

H5 bird flu has been detected in a Silver Gull in South Australia

H5 bird flu has today been detected in a Silver Gull found in Robe, South Australia. This is the first instance of the virus being detected in this species in Australia. This follows several detections of the virus in Greater Crested Terns along the South Australian coast, including at Robe, as well as two discovered in Portland, Victoria.

This development significantly widens the area across which the virus can be spread as Silver Gulls (commonly referred to as seagulls) are a very mobile species, moving between coasts and inland areas including freshwater wetlands. Silver Gulls gather in flocks and come into close contact with other birds including Greater Crested Terns. Well known for their versatile feeding habits, they can also scavenge on carcasses, which provides an important clean-up service to the ecosystem, but also makes them more likely to contract the virus.

BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Advisor Sean Dooley said investment in targeted actions is needed to help wildlife populations withstand the increasing threat of H5 bird flu.

“We now have two resident Australian bird species that have tested positive for H5 bird flu. Both gather in flocks and both mix regularly with other species, so the virus can spread quite quickly in these birds. The reason Silver Gulls elevate our concern is that they move around far more widely than Greater Crested Terns. That broadens the area across which the virus could appear next. Government and community now need to be extra vigilant across more places, and targeted surveillance will need to broaden beyond the coastline.”

“What we’re seeing now suggests very strongly that we’re at the beginning of a long and difficult fight against a virus that has decimated wildlife populations overseas. New detections are emerging day by day.”

“We know we can’t control the virus moving through wildlife, but there are things we can control. We can control other threats to vulnerable birds and wildlife, and we can protect breeding colonies and habitats to bolster populations most at risk to give them a better chance of surviving an outbreak. That’s why we’re calling on the Government to invest $200M in an urgent Wildlife Resilience Package to help threatened birds and wildlife withstand H5 bird flu in Australia.”

BirdLife Australia media enquiries: Please contact James Johnson on 0468 193 484 or at media@birdlife.org.au

Avoid, Record, Report 

Any signs of unusual illness or death in wild and domestic birds should be recorded and reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline at 1800 675 888.  Do not touch any sick or dead animals.  To learn more about H5 bird flu and what it means for humans, birds and wildlife in Australia, visit our dedicated H5 bird flu information hub.