Five species of native Australian birds face extinction as the H5 strain of bird flu spreads across the continent, a crisis exacerbated by years of underinvestment in wildlife resilience. Federal government analysis has scored over 2,000 native birds and mammals on their likelihood of surviving the H5 strain. Hundreds of these species are expected to suffer a "severe reduction" in population size.
The critically endangered Herald petrel is under "extreme threat." The endangered Christmas Island frigate also faces this designation. Three "vulnerable species" — the Houtman Abrolhos lesser noddy, imperial shag, and Heard shag — are similarly at extreme risk. Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough described the findings as "shocking," calling it "a list of doom." He warned that if bird flu enters these populations, "extinction is what we can expect." Gough noted that more than 80 different endangered and critically endangered species have a "high" or worse threat ranking.
Mammals are not spared from the ecological fallout. The endangered Tasmanian devil and eastern quolls are among the highest-ranked mammals at risk. While they are "likely to survive" the virus, their populations would be severely reduced. Several species of dolphins, whales, sea lions, and seals are also projected to experience significant impacts if infected by H5 bird flu. 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. Epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre stated that this particular bird flu strain, a special mutation that arose 6 years ago in 2020, has caused an "unprecedented pattern" globally, having "swept through and decimated different species" in other countries.
The Cost of Neglect
Jack Gough acknowledged the biosecurity response as "excellent," but he pointed out that funding to protect wildlife has "gone backwards." He argued that stopping the spread through wildlife is impossible, making the best response to address "all the other threats." These include foxes, cats, and rats on islands, ensuring wetlands are connected, and preventing habitat destruction in key nesting areas. Gough stressed that this crucial work "hasn't been happening at a scale which reflects the seriousness of this list." He called for an "emergency" $200 million investment into wildlife resilience, separate from the government's biosecurity efforts. This investment, he stated, "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."
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating it is "likely to be a very serious event." He noted that Australia is "the last continent in the world to have bird flu," which provided time to prepare. Watt anticipates the virus will spread inland after dozens of coastal detections, with the upcoming spring breeding season bringing "additional risk factors."
State Priorities and Capital's Logic
The government's response, as detailed by Minister Watt, includes an investment of about $47 million over the last couple of years. This funding has focused on building up populations of threatened species, primarily through removing feral cats, pigs, and other invasive species. Watt also mentioned funding for captive breeding programs in zoos and other facilities, where vaccination might be possible. However, he dismissed the possibility of vaccinating wild bird populations, citing the difficulty of catching birds twice for booster shots. This approach prioritizes contained, managed populations over the systemic protection of wild ecosystems.
Epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre highlighted a critical knowledge gap, stating there is "little information" on how susceptible Australian marsupials and monotremes may be to bird flu. She emphasized the uniqueness of these species, which "don't exist anywhere else in the world and it's unknown." The state's limited investment and focus on reactive biosecurity measures, rather than proactive ecological resilience, leaves these unique species vulnerable to the logic of capital that prioritizes immediate economic concerns over long-term environmental stability.