Gorgias UrUrUrenkel📣🔊 (@spatzlhirn.eurosky.social)

Bird flu threatens to devastate seabird population on Great Barrier Reef - ABC News & Headlines A vulnerable colony of red-tailed tropic birds is being monitored for the deadly H5 bird flu, with fears the impact on Australian native bird populations could be significant. Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef and an important nesting site for the rarely seen red-tailed tropic birds, sits about 80 kilometres north-east of Bundaberg. University of the Sunshine Coast PhD student, Ramney Edwards-Francis, is helping to monitor for the spread of avian influenza H5N1 after the virus arrived in Australia. "It's a really scary time," Ms Edwards-Francis said. "If it were to arrive somewhere like this, it could have a really massive impact on the birds here, and that would just be devastating to see." The researchers take blood samples from birds on the island and share the data with Biosecurity Queensland as part of national surveillance and response efforts. Preparing for an outbreak Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett has met with his state and federal counterparts to discuss ways to stop the virus reaching sensitive bird populations. "We've been preparing for a number of years. But the impact potentially on our native bird population, and on our poultry industry will be significant," he... https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-05/bird-flu-threatens-great-barrier-reef-seabirds/106880076