Bird flu is in Tasmania, but no birds have tested positive in our city.

Thousands of people are reporting sick or dead birds to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), with a total of 38 positive bird flu recorded events across Tasmania (as of 16 September).

H5 bird flu is a contagious disease affecting wild, commercial, and domesticated bird species and other animals. 

NRE Tas, through Biosecurity Tasmania, is continuing surveillance and response activities.

Biosecurity Tasmania is encouraging the community to report sick or dead birds.

If you see a sick or dead bird

  • Avoid touching the bird
  • Record the location. If it is safe, take a photo
  • Report it immediately to the NRE Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: call 1800 675 888 or report online

Biosecurity Tasmania also advises that pet owners can help prevent the spread of bird flu by:

  • keeping cats indoors or in enclosures
  • keeping dogs away from sick or dead wildlife,
  • preventing contact between wild birds and domestic birds or poultry.​​

Biosecurity Tasmania has advice and information about the Tasmanian Bird Flu Response including which animals are at risk, what poultry pet owners should do, and case updates.

H5 Bird Flu

Advice about feeding wild birds

Feeding wild birds might seem harmless but it can have unintended impacts on bird health, the environment, and the wider community.

Providing food and water to wild birds encourages more birds into one area, which could impact their safety.

It affects natural bird feeding behaviour but also means more duck poo and increased contact between birds. This can increase the risk and spread of disease.

It’s never a good idea to feed wildlife but with the added risk of the H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) in Tasmania it is especially important that we do not feed wild birds.

This includes any wild bird, such as ducks, geese, gulls, swans, and cockatoos.

Reducing opportunities for wild birds to gather and mix unnaturally with other birds will reduce the risk of disease spreading in healthy populations. and support healthy bird populations.

You can help us support healthy bird populations by:

  • not feeding wild birds
  • not leaving water out for wild birds, including ducks
  • keeping pet ducks, chickens, and other domestic poultry safely contained to prevent contact with wildlife
  • keeping all food and water for pet birds away from wild birds.

Public health advice about bird flu can be found at Department of Health.

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