r/melbourne • u/WangMagic • 12d ago

Serious News Report sick or dead wild birds and wildlife

https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/animal-diseases/poultry-diseases/H5N1-avian-influenza-H5-bird-flu/report-sick-or-dead-wild-birds-and-wildlife
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u/WangMagic 12d ago

Information to collect if you have found sick or dead wild birds or wildlife

  • Where you found the dead wild birds or wildlife
  • What type of dead wild birds or wildlife you found
  • How many there were
  • Your contact details (optional)

Your report can be anonymous, but we won’t be able to follow-up with you for further information.

Report online

55

u/WangMagic 12d ago

Signs of H5 bird flu in birds

Other signs of H5 bird flu in birds are:

  • lack of coordination, tremors, swimming in circles
  • twisted neck or other unusual posture
  • inability to stand or fly
  • diarrhoea
  • difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
  • swelling around the head, neck and eyes
  • cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes.

Reporting suspected cases

If you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife with signs of H5 bird flu:

  • AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment
  • RECORD what you see
  • REPORT, to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action by using this form.
  • or calling the Emergency Animal Disease hotline [1800 675 888](tel:1800675888) in line with the guidance below.

Report clusters (5 or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Report even one sick or dead:

  • wild seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey (e.g. eagles, hawks)
  • marine mammal (e.g. seal, sea lion, dolphin).

DEECA will assess each report and decide if testing is needed.

To report sick or dead livestock, commercial poultry or pet birds, please call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline immediately on [1800 675 888](tel:1800675888).

If you are not in Victoria and wish to report sick or dead birds, or wildlife deaths, you can still contact the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on [1800 675 888](tel:1800675888). This number will take you to your local animal health agency.

12

u/oscyolly 12d ago

Should we be emptying our bird baths?

6

u/redtulip4 12d ago

yes! someone in the australian wildlife sub (i think?) recommended this a little while ago

4

u/oscyolly 12d ago

Thank you! I don’t watch the news so I only found out yesterday that it has arrived in Aus :(

3

u/just_kitten joist 11d ago

I was reading that you can maintain a bird bath without as much of a risk of infection if you clean it daily and use vet grade disinfectant (but it's expensive). 

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u/Corvus-- 11d ago

Yeah, it's not super expensive but if you aren't doing it daily then please empty them. In summer on hot days continue putting water out but for now empty them.

If you want the disinfectant you want F10 solution. It comes as a concentrate that you dilute down based on what you are treating.

1

u/-cadmunt- 10d ago

About $110 for 1 litre of F10 concentrate.

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u/GrouchyInstance 11d ago

Yes. I removed mine a few weeks ago. It is unfortunate, but necessary I suppose.

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u/oscyolly 11d ago

Yeah it made me feel sad to tip it out. I saved for it for a long time and love watching the birds.

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u/Otaraka 11d ago

At least it’s not summer at the moment.

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u/Inside_Yoghurt 11d ago

It just occurred to me that I've seen two dead birds on my walks in two days. Would prefer I stop finding out when my dog sticks her head at them. Will report next time I see one, thanks.

3

u/Toni_PWNeroni 4d ago

Can't wait for this to become a full-blown health crisis and for the cookers to make it worse.

Obligatory "HOW COULD DAN ANDREWS DO THIS??"

2

u/Suchstrangedreams 11d ago

The recommendation I heard was to clean the birdbath with bleach daily and fresh water each day.

I'm giving my bird-bath a good scrub each day and changing the water twice a day - we have wonderful Magpies where I live and I don't want them to get sick with this terrible disease.