Australia faces the potential extinction of five native bird species as H5 avian influenza spreads across the continent, according to federal government analysis released this week that ranked more than 2,000 native birds and animals by threat level.
The Herald petrel, listed as critically endangered, is under extreme threat along with the endangered Christmas Island frigate and three vulnerable species: the Houtman Abrolhos lesser noddy, imperial shag and Heard shag. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt said it's likely bird flu will start spreading inland after dozens of coastal detections. "This is likely to be a very serious event," he said.
The Assessment
The government's ranking system evaluates species based on vulnerability, susceptibility, habitat, ecology, behavior and information from overseas outbreaks. More than 80 endangered and critically endangered species received a high or worse threat ranking. Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough called the results shocking. "Five bird species facing 'extreme risk' … basically if bird flu gets into these populations, extinction is what we can expect," he said.
The endangered Tasmanian devil and eastern quolls were among the highest-ranked mammals at risk. They'd likely survive the virus, but their populations would be severely reduced. Dolphins, whales, sea lions and seals were also expected to experience significant impacts if infected.
Epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre said the strain has mutated to one that's highly concerning. "This virus, which is a special mutation that arose in 2020, has really caused an unprecedented pattern," Professor MacIntyre said. The first mass mortality of Australian wildlife from the deadly H5 bird flu was confirmed on an island off South Australia's south-east coast earlier this week.
The Funding Dispute
Gough praised the biosecurity response but said funding to protect wildlife has gone backwards. He's calling for an emergency $200 million investment into wildlife resilience, separate from the government's biosecurity response. "What's missing is funding. This should have been funded three years ago when we started preparing [for bird flu] but the next best time is right now before the spring breeding season," he said.
The council chief argued that while stopping bird flu's spread through wildlife isn't possible, addressing other threats is essential. "The foxes, the cats, the rats on islands, making sure wetlands are well connected, that we're not seeing habitat destruction occurring in key nesting areas; that work hasn't been happening at a scale which reflects the seriousness of this list," he said. He added that state governments have already identified where projects should be implemented.
Watt said the government has invested about $47 million over the last couple of years in building up populations of the most threatened species. "Some of that's by removing feral cats, feral pigs, other kinds of invasive species that are reducing those populations," he said.
Vaccination Challenges
The minister acknowledged that vaccinating wild bird populations faces insurmountable practical barriers. "It requires two doses of vaccines, and it's hard enough to catch these birds once, let alone twice to give them a booster, so realistically it's not possible to vaccinate native birds," he said.
Trials are underway to determine if vaccination is viable for birds in captivity. The government's been funding captive breeding work in zoos and other facilities to build up populations of threatened birds, where vaccination could potentially be implemented.
Professor MacIntyre noted there's little information on how susceptible Australian marsupials and monotremes may be to bird flu. "We have these unique species of wildlife that don't exist anywhere else in the world and it's unknown," she said.
Watt emphasized that Australia is the last continent to face bird flu, which has provided time to prepare. The spring breeding season brings additional risk factors as the virus moves inland.
Why This Matters:
The debate over wildlife funding reveals a fundamental tension in conservation policy: how much government spending is justified when private land management, habitat protection and existing biosecurity measures may already address core threats. The $200 million emergency request comes atop $47 million already allocated, raising questions about whether additional spending would meaningfully alter outcomes for species facing an unstoppable viral spread. With vaccination impractical for wild populations and inland transmission inevitable, the focus shifts to whether taxpayer dollars are better spent on proven biosecurity containment or expanded habitat programs. The government's existing investments in feral animal control and captive breeding represent targeted, measurable interventions. Calls for emergency funding before the spring breeding season underscore the challenge of balancing immediate crisis response with long-term fiscal responsibility in environmental management.