As at 22 September 2026, no sick or dead birds or animals carrying H5 bird flu have been found on any Nature Foundation nature reserve. 

Unfortunately, we cannot prevent this virus from reaching our reserves, as wild bird movement is uncontrollable. We can, however, do three things: detect it early, ensure we are not carrying it between reserves and wetlands, and measure its effects on bird populations so that the response, ours and the nation’s, is built on evidence rather than guesswork.

We have ranked every reserve against the Commonwealth’s species risk list and the habitat each supports. The three highest-risk reserves are Witchelina, Murbpook and Watchalunga, because all three concentrate waterbirds: Witchelina’s ephemeral wetlands are carrying numbers of water-dependent and migratory birds after this year’s rain, Murbpook’s lagoon sits on the River Murray, and Watchalunga’s swamps on the lower Finniss are close to the Fleurieu Peninsula detections. Bullock Bridge is closest to the current South East cluster, with a crested tern recorded about 20 kilometres to its west on the coast near Kingston SE. On every reserve, the pathway we are watching most closely is that of scavengers, raptors, ravens, and foxes.

What we have done:

• Regular monitoring visits are now scheduled across the reserves, beginning at Watchalunga and Murbpook, with staff looking specifically for sick or dead birds and for unusual behaviour in waterbird flocks. Witchelina will be added when tracks dry out enough to be driven.
• Field procedures and personal protective equipment are in place for staff and volunteers, and every Nature Foundation vehicle carries what is needed to record and report a find safely without moving the virus to the next site.
• At this stage nature reserve visitation and volunteer activities on reserves will continue, though we will assess and adjust as required, as the situation develops.
• We are in regular contact with PIRSA and DEW, particularly where our reserves adjoin national parks and conservation reserves.

Nature Foundation’s long-term monitoring will be invaluable for understanding the impact and recovery, helping us target management actions, such as increased feral predator control, where they are most needed. We run ongoing survey programs at all reserves, including 15 years of bird survey data at Witchelina. Our scheduled bird surveys will continue unchanged, with added biosecurity measures. 

We will update you as soon as anything changes.
 

Please remember, if you see sick or dead wildlife (including marine mammals and wild birds):

• Avoid contact with them and keep pets away – don’t touch them.
• Record the date, time, location, species (type of bird or animal), and how many.
• Report your observations to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888
• See more information at: birdflu.sa.gov.au