Suspected mass bird flu deaths found in second state as Murray Watt warns ‘this is the beginning’

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/03/suspected-mass-bird-flu-deaths-found-in-second-state-as-murray-watt-warns-this-is-the-beginning>

"Aerial surveillance has detected mass bird deaths in a second Australian state
in another suspected escalation of the spread of deadly H5 bird flu.

The environment minister, Murray Watt, said on Monday Australia had begun “a
long and difficult journey” as CSIRO analysis confirmed Australia’s first mass
mortality event at Baudin Rocks off South Australia’s coast.

Hours later, Victorian authorities said aerial observations had identified a
“cluster” of dead and sick greater crested terns in the Glenelg River estuary
near Nelson and across Lawrence Rocks, in the state’s south-west, over the
weekend.

If samples taken from the Victorian birds return positive results, it would be
Australia’s second confirmed mortality event from the deadly disease that has
devastated wildlife populations globally.

“I want to level with people: this is the beginning of what is likely to be a
long, difficult journey in terms of the impacts on wildlife,” Watt said on
Monday."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics