2025 World Albatross Day: 19 June

Confronting the silent threat of disease​

On 19 June 2025, we mark the sixth annual World Albatross Day, with the theme ‘Effects of Disease’. While albatrosses have long faced threats like fisheries bycatch and climate change, disease is an emerging and often overlooked peril.​

The hidden menace: disease in albatross populations

Albatrosses are among the most remarkable seabirds on the planet, known for their vast movements across the world’s oceans. But this globe-trotting lifestyle may expose them to a wider array of parasites and pathogens than many other birds. Albatrosses are long-lived—Wisdom, a 74-year-old Laysan Albatross, is the world’s oldest known wild bird—and they have dense, communal nesting habits, both factors which increase the risk of transmission of disease within breeding colonies.

Emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza, avian pox and avian cholera are already affecting some albatrosses, and they can have devastating impacts, reducing breeding success and chick survival, which places further pressure on already vulnerable populations.

Australia’s unique albatross: the Shy Albatross

Australia’s only endemic albatross, the Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta), breeds on just three isolated islands off Tasmania. They are already at risk from threats like fisheries bycatch and climate change, and now disease poses an additional—and significant—challenge.

On Albatross Island, breeding colonies have been affected by a virus that is transmitted by ticks. Infected chicks often show symptoms of avian pox, and over 40% of pre-fledging birds are affected in some years, though outbreaks vary in severity and distribution. Nevertheless, they often lead to substantial declines in breeding success due to infected chicks losing weight and dying. Reflecting these ongoing pressures on their survival, the Shy Albatross was listed as nationally Endangered in Australia in 2020.

Climate change and disease

Climate change can exacerbate the spread and impact of disease among populations of seabirds. Warmer temperatures and altered weather patterns can increase stress levels and the prevalence of pathogens—such as viruses and parasites—making seabirds more susceptible to illness. Researchers are working hard to understand the processes behind the effects of a changing climate and disease.

Avian Influenza and albatrosses

Avian influenza or bird flu is an infectious disease caused by strains of the Influenza A virus. The H5N1 strain or H5 bird flu is a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that affects birds and mammals associated with water—ducks, gulls and seabirds such as albatrosses, as well as sea lions and elephant seals. The virus causes severe neurological and respiratory symptoms and has resulted in the deaths of thousands of birds and mammals all around the world—with the exception of Australia and New Zealand.

H5N1 has been detected in Vulnerable Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) on the subantarctic island of South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur). This outbreak, which began with Brown Skuas in October 2023, has since affected other seabirds and seals. Recent outbreaks on the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands have prompted fears for the birds of Heard and Macquarie Islands, a mere 400 kilometres away. The spread of bird flu in remote island ecosystems threatens already vulnerable species with high mortality rates, particularly those with slow reproductive rates. In addition, biosecurity measures are difficult to implement effectively in such isolated environments, and any intervention must be carefully balanced to avoid disturbance to breeding colonies. The outbreak also complicates long-term monitoring and research activities, with restricted access and increased risk to both wildlife and people working in the field.

Conservation efforts and the path forward

The H5 bird flu virus cannot be stopped, but there is still plenty we can do to support populations of our precious albatrosses and other seabirds. BirdLife Australia is working with local and international organisations, such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, to address the challenges faced by these species by promoting research and conservation strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of the disease. Efforts include monitoring outbreaks, implementing biosecurity measures and supporting habitat protection.​

How you can help

1. Stay Informed:
   Educate yourself about the threats facing albatrosses and share this knowledge with others.​ If you want to learn more about albatrosses and Avian Influenza, please join us the Birds Meet Webinar at 7pm on 19 June 2025.
2. Support Conservation:
   Contribute to organisations dedicated to seabird conservation.​
3. Advocate:
   Encourage policymakers to implement and enforce measures that protect albatross habitats and address the threats.​

By acknowledging and addressing the impact of disease on populations of albatrosses, we take a crucial step toward ensuring the survival of these majestic seabirds for generations to come.​

This article was written by Dr Yuna Kim, Seabird Project Coordinator and Tanya Loos, Avian Influenza Response Coordinator