A DEAD giant petrel found at Lancelin beach brings WA’s positive detections of H5 bird flu in a migratory seabird to eight confirmed cases.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said testing this week at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness had confirmed the presumed positive detection.
A DPIRD spokeswoman said while testing was unable to fully determine the specific H5 bird flu strain, likely due to the sample quality from a decomposed carcass, it would be treated as a positive case.
Luckily it is July and probably too early for WA’s fairy terns, some of which head to the islands off Lancelin to breed, to come in contact with the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, which was first detected in WA in June
Birdlife Australia said all bird species could contract H5 bird flu but as terns had been affected overseas the Australian fairy tern may be at risk with Wildlife Health Australia saying terns had been heavily affected in Scotland
In Summer visitors to Lancelin islands, March 2016 Perth NRM coastal and marine program manager Craig Wilson told Yanchep News Online the fairy terns migrated from the Pilbara in September or October to breed and could be found in the Perth area until February or March.
“Generally, fairy terns are found at the mouth of estuaries (North Fremantle, Peel Harvey), on islands (Rottnest, Carnac) or sand spits (Point Walter, Point Peron, Woodman Point),’’ he said.
“I am not aware of any breeding colonies in the northern beaches of Perth however locations such as the offshore islands of Lancelin do support fairy terns,’’ he said.
He said the small tern was listed as a vulnerable species and was under pressure from a range of threats including disturbance, loss of habitat and predation from feral animals.
“Fairy terns feed on small bait fish and can be seen dipping into near shore waters before heading back to their breeding colonies.”
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) library document said each year in late spring up to one third of Australia’s fairy tern population migrates to the south-west of WA, seeking suitable sites to lay eggs and raise chicks.
“Like most seabirds, fairy terns nest in groups or colonies, which can have up to several hundred breeding pairs,’’ the document said.
According to Birdlife Australia the habitat for fairy terns includes sheltered coastal beaches, inshore and offshore islands, sheltered inlets, sewage farms, harbours, estuaries and lagoons.
Last week after the highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a greater crested tern in South Australia, Birdlife Australia’s Hobart Australasian Seabird Group seabird ecologist Eric J Woehler raised concerns about virus spreading during the greater crested tern’s breeding season which is from October to December.
Greater crested terns, which forage over coastal seas and offshore, are usually seen in flocks, often with other terns and silver gulls, according to Birdlife Australia.
Dr Woehler said most Australians who live close to the coast would be familiar with greater crested terns as they were a widespread coastal bird found on most Australian coasts.
“At present, the birds are away from their breeding colonies, potentially reducing the risk of the virus spreading,’’ he said.
“Their breeding season starts shortly and the risk of spreading increases as a result.
“The H5N1 virus has had devastating impacts on other tern species elsewhere.
“We will have to wait to see the extent of the virus on this Australian seabird species.”
The DPIRD spokeswoman said both the Lancelin case and that of another dead giant petrel found at Parry Beach in Denmark were reported by members of the public to the emergency animal disease (EAD) hotline for further investigation.
If you see sick or dead wildlife avoid contact and keep your distance, record the date, time, location and take photos and report it to the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
