Bird flu detected in Goulburn

["Kim Farley via Canberrabirds " <>]

Thank you Sandra and Jack. With a report in Goulburn, an outbreak in the ACT may not be far off. 

It is interesting that, to date, nearly all Australian cases of Avian Flu have been in Crested Terns - 326 of the total of 477 cases. Silver Gull is the next most numerous but with only 55 cases. My info comes from the talk from ACT Govt Biosecurity Vet, Rachael Grigson at our member meeting this week. 

But quite apart from the number of cases, I am wondering why a coastline-based species such as Crested is turning up inland. eBird and BLA's Birdata show the coastline incidence of the species, as do the various field guides we all use. Historical sources such as HANZAB and the New Atlas of Australian Birds (RAOU 2003) show the same. And I don't really believe that Crested Terns have always visited inland waters and not been noticed until now. What do others think?  

Speculation on my part, but would one of the flu's neurological effects be to influence species' behaviour to the point of causing them to move long distances outside where they would normally go?  

Kim

On Fri, Sep 11, 2026 at 4:55 PM jandaholland--- via Canberrabirds <> wrote:

Thanks Sandra, from the eBird map since 1 January 2018, the closest sighting is at Burrier on the Shoalhaven about 80 km to the E, and the closest sightings in the past month are from the Shoalhaven Heads Inlet about 100 km distant.  So perhaps a little more likely than the one found very early on at Wentworth on the confluence of the Darling and Murray River, though the eBird map shows a rare record of 3 birds at Calperum Station in SA about 100 km to the W on 16 June 2026, as well as other records of this species moving up the Murray River, the closest being a bird at Bowhill over 200 km away on 14 July 2026.  Regards  Jack Holland

From: Canberrabirds <> On Behalf Of sandra henderson via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 11 September 2026 4:34 PM
To: Canberra birds <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Bird flu detected in Goulburn

 

NSW list of affected sites now includes Goulburn (a Great Crested Tern).  Surprising (what is a Great Crested Tern doing in Goulburn?)  but worrying.

 

Sandra H

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