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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Australia's native duck species face new threat from deadly bird flu

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Australia's 15 native duck species are facing a severe threat from the arrival of the H5N1 avian influenza virus.
  • The virus, detected in migratory seabirds near Esperance and confirmed in South Australia, poses an existential risk to duck populations already stressed by habitat loss.
  • Scientists warn that ducks unable to adapt to environmental changes and confined to shrinking refuge wetlands are most vulnerable if the virus spreads.

Australia's native duck population faces an existential threat from the H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to Birdlife Australia scientists. The virus's arrival on the mainland, confirmed by positive tests in migratory seabirds near Esperance, Western Australia, and a subsequent case in South Australia, puts further pressure on the 15 indigenous duck species.

With waterbirds over the past few decades, a lot of the decline is to do with environmental changes due to expansion of agricultural land and urban settlement, whether that's large cities or regional towns.

— Ryan KilgowerBirdlife Australia ecologist Ryan Kilgower explains the environmental pressures on native duck populations.

These species are already menaced by habitat degradation, urban sprawl, and mistaken identity by hunters. Birdlife Australia ecologist Ryan Kilgower explained that reduced refuge wetlands due to human encroachment significantly increases the risk to native ducks and other wetland birds should infection take hold. He noted that environmental changes, including agricultural expansion and urban settlement, have led to population declines over decades.

Kilgower highlighted that birds which do not adapt well to environmental changes are most at risk. "These certain species that don't adapt don't just decline in population numbers, they also become confined to their remaining refuges," he said. "If bird flu gets into those last refuges, then you end up losing those species."

These certain species that don't adapt don't just decline in population numbers, they also become confined to their remaining refuges. If bird flu gets into those last refuges, then you end up losing those species.

— Ryan KilgowerRyan Kilgower describes the vulnerability of non-adaptive duck species to bird flu outbreaks in their limited habitats.

While none of Australia's 15 duck species are currently classified as threatened nationally, some, like the blue-billed duck and freckled duck, are endangered in Victoria. Birdwatcher David Mould observed a worrying trend, noting that waterbirds in general have been in population decline over the past 30 years, a finding supported by the 40-year East Australian Waterbird Survey. This survey analyzes waterbird abundance across thousands of wetlands annually, indicating a proportional decline in total numbers.

If you lump them all together, they are not threatened yet, but they have been in decline over the past 30 years.

— David MouldBirdwatcher David Mould expresses concern over the long-term population trends of native ducks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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