Volunteer birdwatchers enlisted in bird flu surveillance

In the wake of the first confirmed positive case of H5 bird flu in a resident seabird in South Australia, BirdLife Australia, Birds SA and Conservation SA have partnered with the South Australian Government to contribute to South Australia’s bird flu response.

Under the nation’s first surveillance training program, volunteers from all three organisations will be invited to sign up to the Bird Observers Network and receive specialised training to identify signs of H5 bird flu cases in wildlife to record and report suspected cases.

The program will expand the existing surveillance network for H5 bird flu and also provide an opportunity for the government to share information about current updates, advice and safety protocols.

South Australia has recorded five confirmed cases of H5 bird flu, including the first detection in a resident seabird, a Greater Crested Tern. This gives greater urgency to employ the abundance of local expertise the members of all three organisations bring to bolster the existing surveillance measures currently being undertaken. Aerial patrols and ground-based surveillance crews have covered almost 5,000 kilometres of coastline.

BirdLife Australia CEO, Kate Millar, said, “We welcome the SA Government’s recognition that the community can play a valuable role in keeping watch for more detections of H5 bird flu and contributing to our collective response. Our incredible volunteers are already at the heart of the bird conservation work that we do in South Australia. This partnership is a great way to harness their expertise and enthusiasm to help us tackle the threat that H5 bird flu poses to our beloved native birds.”