· by debdebz.bsky.social ·12h ago · view on bsky.app ↗

First H5N1 bird flu death recorded in Phillip Island penguins (abc.net.au)

A Phillip Island penguin has died from H5N1 bird flu in the first detection among the island's little penguin colony, ahead of vaccinations beginning on Monday.

Not strictly a #BirdOfTheDay theme but just read this news. So very sad 😔 Only 50 km from here So worried about our vulnerable birds and mammals

#birdoftheday #birdphotography #birds #birdsofaustralia #eastcoastkin #protectbirdhabitat

5 comments — live from bluesky

Atlantic Birding · 1 · 12h ago

That’s sad Debz; it’s caused a lot of death here over the last few years.

DebDebz · 1 · 11h ago

Were there any extinctions AB? We haven’t had much news about the Avian Flu in other countries

Atlantic Birding · 1 · 11h ago

There’s some hope the Gannet colonies are building up a resistance but it’s hope rather than fact right now

DebDebz · 1 · 11h ago

We can only hope 🤞 Resistance would be the best. I fear vaccination will never be very effective given the need to catch wild birds twice!!

Atlantic Birding · 1 · 11h ago

Doesn’t sound viable and I doubt there’s the political will to do it. Resistance is the way I think; and nature is resilient but already struggling

DebDebz · 1 · 10h ago

They’re trying it (vaccination) with the Penguins and also with some captive breeding sites of vulnerable species. Nature will no doubt run its course tho…

Atlantic Birding · 2 · 10h ago

It usually does

Atlantic Birding · 1 · 11h ago

No extinctions thankfully but with bird populations already low it is a concern. We have seabird populations of European importance so it’s a constant worry. I’ve been on beaches strewn with dead guillemots and razorbills last year

DebDebz · 2 · 11h ago

Oh how distressing AB it’s dreadful carnage. Thankfully no extinctions but those pelagics are very vulnerable. We have a few land birds at great risk - Orange-bellied Parrots, Swift Parrots, Little Penguin, Regent Honeyeater, Plains Wanderer as well as several seabirds

Atlantic Birding · 1 · 11h ago

It’s very worrying; and it down seem to be going away

DebDebz · 1 · 10h ago

No seems to be spreading and no doubt mutating before too long 😞

ralandy02 · 1 · 10h ago

A bit like waiting for the apocalypse.

DebDebz · 1 · 10h ago

😞

ralandy02 · 1 · 11h ago

I can’t imagine it killing the beautiful birds in my garden Deb. I’m trying to ignore the waiting catastrophe.

DebDebz · 1 · 11h ago

Ikr, holding my breath 😞🫣

Kate loves a walk. · 1 · 10h ago

I only read this week that they were going to vaccinate them and tag them at the same time, so they knew who they had vaccinated. Just not quick enough.

DebDebz · 1 · 10h ago

Yeah wish they’d started before it hit our shores but it is what it is

Kate loves a walk. · 1 · 10h ago

It was inevitable it would come here sooner or later with migratory birds.

Rob Crank Photography · 2 · 11h ago

Such a shame Deb, I was watching a program the other day about the Fairy Penguins, and it was really good to find out all about them.

DebDebz · 1 · 11h ago

They are such gorgeous little (flightless) birds. The Penguin Parade is a huge tourist attraction on Phillip Island and there is much scientific research that takes place there too also studying other wildlife including Australian fur seals, Eastern barred bandicoots and coastal birds.