
Avian influenza viruses have infected bird populations around the globe long before humans were aware of them in the 19th Century. In 2021, a new strand of bird flu known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) infected many birds across most of the world. Currently the virus has still not reached Australia, but the threat still looms large especially amongst seabirds.
4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Simon Gorta, a conservation ecologist and PHD candidate from the University of New South Wales Sydney to discuss this Avian Influenza strand, seabirds in general and particularly the species involved in the spread.
For a deep dive...
To keep up with the latest information on the latest Avian influenza outbreak visit Wildlife Health Australia. Alternatively the state and federal governments each feature useful information on the virus.
Check out this cool guide to help you identify some of Australia's seabird species.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 10AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia
IMG: From Wikimedia Under CC3.0

Your 11AM Zedlines with Miko, Niamh and Sarah
Image via Wage Peace

Your 10am Zedlines with Miko, Niamh & Sarah. (IMG: Via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Sarah, Niamh & Miko. (Image via Ben Pennings)

Your 11AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your (messy) 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Dan (Images via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 9AM Zedlines with Charlie and Yuchen (Image via Public Domain Pictures)

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Dan (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with HG, Stella, Sarah, and Eden

Your 10AM Zedlines with Alec, Sarah, Vivek, and Eden

Your 9am Zedlines with Em, Vivek and Stella.

Your 8am Zedlines with Vivek, Em and Alec

Your 11AM Zedlines with Hailey and Georgie

Your 10AM Zedlines with Cass and Lachlan
Image credit: Vera Kratochvil

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie.
Image Credit: Foran Lawn & Yard.

Your 11AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 10AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine
Your 8AM Zedlines with Livinia and Clementine

Your 11AM Zedlines with Ellen, Miko and Niamh
IMG: From Wikimedia Commons under CC4.0

Your 9AM Zedlines with Miko and Niamh
IMG: From PhotosByCapy

Your 10AM Zedlines with Alanah, Sarah and Ellen
IMG: From Wikimedia Commons under CC4.0

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alanah and Sarah
IMG: From Dorothy Day House on Facebook

Your 11AM Zedlines with Charlie and Ethan! (Image via Wikimedia Commons)