WHILST the HPAI H5N1 strain of avian flu has not been detected in Australia yet, surveillance and reporting are key to early detection according to Phillp Island Nature Parks.
Over 34 million short-tailed shearwaters breed in Australia, with 1.4 million arriving on Phillip Island, making them the most abundant seabird found on our shores, and together with a 40,000-strong colony of penguins, the largest in the world, the team at Phillip Island Nature Parks are not letting any detail fly over their heads.
“As part of the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program, which is coordinated nationally by Wildlife Health Australia, disease screening of up to 250 short-tailed shearwaters on Phillip Island was conducted this month. The results of these tests are still being analysed,” CEO Phillip Island Nature Parks, Catherine Basterfield said in a statement this morning.
“Phillip Island Nature Parks is continuing to monitor the shearwaters as they return to Phillip Island for their breeding season, and we are happy to report that we have not detected any signs of sick birds.
“As a further precautionary measure A3 signage is now in place including information about HPAI H5N1, symptoms and how to report sick or dead birds or wildlife.”
The Nature Parks will display these signs at Swan Lake, Observation Point and Fishers Wetland.
For more information about HPAI H5N1, including how to report sick or dead birds or wildlife visit wildlife.vic.gov.au/sick-injured-or-orphaned-wildlife/high-pathogenic-avian-influenza
