South West birdwatchers are urged to keep an eye out and take care as conservationists fear bird flu invasion

South West birdwatchers are urged to keep an eye out and take care as conservationists fear a bird flu invasion.

Birdlife Bunbury and the Leschenault Catchment Council are urging wildlife carers, poultry owners and the wider community to be prepared and aware of the threat of avian flu.

Australia is the only continent not to have recorded cases of the virulent H5N1 bird flu strain which has killed millions of wild birds and tens of thousands of mammals around the world.

It was only in October last year that Antarctica recorded its first cases of the infectious disease, which has ripped though populations of penguins and other birds.

With the illness’ ability to spread, conservationists fear it is not a matter of if it arrives in Australia, but when.

Alarm bells rang from May-July this year after the H5N1 virus was detected in a young girl returning from India.

This was the first time the highly infectious pathogen was detected in Australia, though it did not spread to any birds.

In the same period, several poultry farms in other States were battling against outbreaks of the lesser H7N3 and H7N9 in Victoria, and H7N8 in NSW.

One conservationist concerned for Australia’s ongoing biosecurity is Birdlife Bunbury volunteer and founding member Sue Kalab.

Mrs Kalab said she was particularly concerned about the black swans which inhabited the Leschenault Estuary.

“Whilst our black swans currently seem plentiful, wouldn’t it be devastating to gaze at our estuary with no swans?” she said.

“Their idyllic presence gives a sense of tranquillity, and to hear their velvety calls across still waters at night is one of life’s transcending moments.

“We may lose these harmless creatures if this fatal virus finds its way into our black swan populations. It would be catastrophic.”

A spokesperson for the LCC said when the flu did arrive on Australian shores, there was a potential it would bring about local extinctions.

“Though the arrival of the virus cannot be prevented, experts say the impacts could be reduced through preparation and timely responses,” they said.

“Monitoring for early signs of the virus, identifying at-risk species and sites, and developing response plans and protocols for safely removing affected animal carcasses which continue to shed the virus.”

The spokesperson said wildlife carers should use hygiene measures and personal protective equipment when handling sick or injured animals, and commercial producers needed to use on-farm biosecurity and hygiene measures to protect birds from disease.

“Be safe when entering wildlife areas, and keep your distance if you see sick or dead birds,” they said.

“Always wash your hands with soap before and after handling birds.”

Those who notice unusual signs of disease or mass deaths of wild or domestic birds should avoid interacting with them, and instead take photos or a video, record their location, and report it to the national Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.