H5 bird flu arrived in Australia in June 2026, initially via isolated cases of infected seabirds making landfall on the Australian mainland. In July 2026 local transmission of the virus was confirmed in Greater Crested Terns. To date this species has suffered the greatest losses and been a primary driver of the outbreaks in South Australia and Victoria, and more recently Tasmania, as the virus spreads from terns into the species they flock with such as Silver Gulls, and then as cases grow further spread occurs into scavenging and predatory species such as ravens and raptors as they feed on infected carcasses and sick individuals. So far there is no evidence of transmission our inland in lakes and wetlands, and no cases in domestic poultry.
Whilst this is distressing, the Birdata team would like to update you in how our data is being used in the response and how you can support birds during this time. The BirdLife Australia Network has some of our most trusted and experienced birders. We encourage you to share this information directly with your volunteers as another support resource during this difficult time.
Important messaging
If you come across a bird with suspected Avian Influenza (H5N1), you must first follow these important steps:
- AVOID - contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment. Do not touch, move or approach the bird, and do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead wildlife.
- RECORD - what you see, the location the animal was found, and take photos or video (if possible) without approaching the bird.
- REPORT - any unusual illness or death in wild birds and other wildlife immediately via the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Birdata and BirdLife Australia roles in H5 bird flu response
BirdLife Australia is not an official response agency for the H5 bird flu outbreak nor part of the Government task force. However, we do have staff involved in several working groups and stakeholder briefings that feed into response planning through the Government. Similarly, Birdata will be providing data extracts to the Federal Government and other agencies as appropriate. This data will be drawn from our Bird Impact Tracker (BIT) feature that is embedded in General Birdata as well as some other survey modules including Shorebirds, Birds on Farms, Bittern Project, Swift Parrot Search, WA Black Cockies, and Wetland Birds.
Bird Impact Tracker (BIT)
The BIT feature was developed in 2025 specifically as a tool to support management, response planning and recovery of H5 bird flu, however it can also be used to log any sightings of sick, injured or dead birds (regardless of the suspected cause).
As you undertake your usual bird surveys, if you suspect H5 bird flu may have contributed to an observed bird mortality or sick bird, please:
- 1. Avoid, Record, Report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (a legal requirement for all suspected observations of H5 bird flu).
- 2. Record in BIT: Once reported, you can additionally record it in Birdata’s BIT.
If H5 bird flu is not the suspected cause of sickness, injury or mortality, you can record the sighting in the BIT feature and alert your local wildlife response group to provide emergency care if needed.
You can learn more about the symptoms of H5 bird flu in birds on the BirdLife website and more about the BIT feature and important response actions here.
How to use the BIT feature
To learn how to use the BIT feature in your bird surveys, please use this BIT feature guide. We are currently working to expand the BIT feature to other programs and will update you as this occurs but for now, here are the survey modules that currently have the BIT feature embedded:
- General Birdata
- Shorebirds
- Birds on Farms
- Bittern Project
- Swift Parrot Search
- Southwest Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program
- Wetland Birds
Please note that if you are doing a survey in a program other than these, you will need to enter any suspected H5 bird flu sightings into General Birdata as an ‘Incidental Search’.
Where to find important updates
Please do not reach out to Birdata for updates on new cases. The BIT feature is not a live surveillance tool. Official updates on new cases can be found via the Government Agricultural Department website here: H5 bird flu testing updates – DAFF.
BirdLife Australia also has a dedicated website with updates on this rapidly emerging situation. You can find BirdLife Australia’s media releases and messages around H5 bird flu here – H5N1 Avian Influenza – BirdLife Australia and in our socials. You can also find some broad species susceptibility information through AviFlu Map and Understanding the risk to native species – DCCEEW.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to birdata@birdlife.org.au.
Volunteer Resources & Wellbeing
To support the health and wellbeing of our volunteers, BirdLife Australia recently hosted a free wellbeing session as well as an online Wellbeing Field Guide. Looking after yourself is an important part of being able to keep going, feel connected and stay healthy. To access your free online wellbeing guide, click the link below:
If you feel unsafe in surveying an area, please do not jeopardise the health and safety of yourself and any other volunteers. It is important that in suspected cases you follow the AVOID, RECORD, REPORT protocols.
“No matter how bleak or menacing a situation may appear, it does not entirely own us. It can’t take away our freedom to respond, our power to take action.”
― Ryder Carroll
Want to learn more?
To log a bird sighting or survey in Birdata, download the app or head to birdata.birdlife.org.au. To take your skills to the next level, enrol in Birdata’s new eLearning course: Birdata Basics and Beyond: Make your birding count. For more information on H5 bird flu visit H5N1 Avian Influenza – BirdLife Australia.