H5 bird flu: 5 things you can do

H5 bird flu: 5 things you can do

H5 bird flu is here. For bird lovers, news of mass mortality events and sick and dying birds can be overwhelming, and facing a threat of this scale can make us feel powerless. But there are small, practical steps we can all take to help keep our native birds safe and slow the spread of the virus. Birds need us more than ever, and small changes can help make a big difference in the fight against H5 bird flu. 

Here are 5 ways you can help give native birds the best chance of survival against H5 bird flu.

1. Learn the signs 

Right now, vigilance is key – and by learning the signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu, you can be our eyes and ears and help us monitor and prepare for potential outbreaks.   

Avoid, record, report 

Be prepared, not scared. Look for any unusual behaviour in wild and domestic birds, including difficulty breathing, standing, walking or flying. Abnormal posture, weakness, lethargy and poor coordination are also symptoms of H5 bird flu and should be reported. 

Keep an eye out for any dead or dying birds – especially seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds or birds of prey.  

Numerous dead birds in one location could be a sign that H5 bird flu has infected local populations and should always be reported.  

Record photos and/or videos from a safe distance, and take detailed notes including your location, the date and time of your sighting, the estimated number of sick or dead animals present and any clinical signs that sick animals are showing to include in your report. Don’t forget to provide your contact details and those of any other observers, in case more information is required.  

Immediately report any suspected cases to the 24/7 Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.  

Save this number to your phone, as well as the contact details for your local wildlife shelter or registered carer or rescuer for sick and injured birds that aren’t showing signs of H5 bird flu. 

If you see a bird with suspected symptoms, keep your distance – do not touch or take sick or dying animals into your care or to vets or wildlife hospitals, and keep dogs away from any carcasses.  

2. Avoid disturbing birds 

Healthy birds are the best defence we have against H5 bird flu. Stressed birds are more likely to catch and spread disease, and reducing the pressure on already struggling bird populations helps boost their resilience to a potential outbreak.  

Safe pets, safe wildlife 

Reducing disturbance to local native birds starts at home – with our favourite four-legged friends.  

Roaming pet cats kill an estimated 546 million mammals, birds and reptiles in Australia every year, so keeping cats indoors is an easy way to help keep your local native birds safe. It’s safer for your pet too, as cats can contract the virus by eating infected birds. 

If you’re a dog walker, please keep dogs on a leash to avoid disturbing or stressing birds, especially around water. Waterbirds, shorebirds and beach-nesting birds are at higher risk of catching, spreading or dying from the virus, especially during breeding season – and even the best-behaved off-leash dogs can easily kill, injure or frighten breeding birds away from their nests or chicks. Keeping dogs on a leash wherever birds are present – especially on the beach and at wetlands and lakes – helps protect our most at-risk species, while reducing the risk of pets catching the virus.  

Practicing ethical birdwatching, following site closures and keeping your distance from nesting birds are more great ways to reduce disturbance and other negative impacts to birds.  

3. Don’t feed birds 

While millions of well-meaning Australians enjoy feeding the birds in their backyard, many don’t realise that feeding wild birds can do more harm than good for our feathered friends.  

Although an outbreak is unlikely to occur in our backyards, avoiding feeding wild birds is the best way to help slow and prevent the spread of H5 bird flu and other diseases in your local bird population. The virus is extremely contagious and can spread rapidly at feeding, roosting, nesting and watering sites – wherever birds flock together – and bird feeders and feeding stations are easily contaminated.  

Instead, help your backyard birds by providing them with long-term feeding and breeding habitat. Planting a bird-friendly garden gives your local native birds the natural food, shelter and nesting resources they need now and into the future, while encouraging birds to find their own food (instead of congregating in large numbers at a single food source).  

Check out our guide to creating your own bird-friendly garden here.  

4. Provide clean water 

Don’t worry – your bird bath can stay.    

Most backyard birds – including honeyeaters, thornbills and fairywrens – are at low risk of catching or spreading the virus, and are unlikely to be affected by rising H5 bird flu cases.  

Like us, birds need water to survive, and many backyard species need fresh water to drink and bathe in. Providing safe, clean and fresh water is a great way to help your local native birds, especially with summer approaching. 

Instead of a single, shared water source, we recommend providing multiple shallow water sources around your backyard (but only as many as you can maintain!) Different species prefer different depths of water, so try a variety of shapes and sizes to see what water sources work best for your local birds.  

Most importantly, clean and replace water daily to prevent contamination, and remove any dirt and droppings by rinsing and scrubbing water sources thoroughly. You can clean and disinfect bird baths and other water sources by scrubbing them with hot water and a splash of vinegar or bleach solution (one cup of domestic-strength bleach to four litres of water) before rinsing thoroughly and leaving them in the sun to dry. Wash your hands thoroughly after topping up or cleaning water sources.  

By changing water daily, you can also steer clear of any harsh chemicals, including synthetic soaps and disinfectants – which can be toxic for birds and strip natural oils from their feathers. There’s no need to stock-up on F10 either: it’s a powerful, hospital grade disinfectant commonly used in veterinary clinics, and isn’t necessary in keeping your bird bath clean and fresh.  

You can find more information on providing water for birds here.

5. Add your voice 

While H5 bird flu remains a low risk to human health, it could be devastating for Australia’s birds and mammals. And right now, our birds need us more than ever. 

Help be their voice by advocating for better protection of birds and their habitats, and join BirdLife Australia in our fight to stop bird extinctions. 

Join us in campaigning for the easy wins that will prevent bird deaths and reduce the threats they’re already facing – like ending duck hunting in Victoria and South Australia, and removing bird-killing rat poisons from public sale.  

Alongside leading experts and other wildlife and conservation groups, BirdLife Australia is also calling for more funding to better protect our native wildlife from H5 bird flu. 

We’re urging the Federal Government to invest an additional $200 million in emergency funding to boost wildlife resilience and reduce the threats our native species are already facing – including funds for habitat protection and restoration, invasive species control, monitoring and on-ground conservation efforts.   

Please add your voice and use our online email tool to contact your MP today.