H5 Bird Flu
H5 Bird Flu has now been detected in different parts of Victoria. This follows the strain’s initial detection in Western Victoria and other parts of the state since it first arrived in Australia in July 2026.
People love and care deeply about the wildlife that calls Port Phillip home, from our little penguins to the many birds that visit our beaches and foreshore, so it’s understandable there’ll be concern about the spread of bird flu in Victoria and the potential risk to local wildlife.
The risk to human health remains low. There is currently no evidence of mass bird deaths, and no detections in poultry or livestock in our municipality. Council and DEECA continue to monitor the St Kilda penguin colony closely, with no signs of infection detected there to date.
Our beaches, parks and foreshore remain open. Council is not planning closures.
What Council is doing
- Working closely with DEECA and Agriculture Victoria to monitor the situation locally.
- Continuing patrolling our beaches and foreshore to identify and safely manage any sick or deceased birds.
- Sharing updates and reporting pathways with the community.
Always remember to stay vigilant when walking your dogs in our open spaces and on our beaches, and take care to prevent cats and dogs from consuming sick or deceased birds, which may carry disease.
What to do if you see dead or sick wild birds
It’s common to find dead migratory birds, such as shearwaters, on our coastal beaches. Reporting is now more critical than ever to help DEECA track the spread of H5 bird flu in Victoria.
If you find sick or dead wild birds, or wildlife showing signs of H5 bird flu:
- Avoid contact with sick or dead birds, wildlife and the surrounding environment.
- Record what you see, including the location and number of affected animals.
Reporting dead birds on Council-managed land:
Report using My Port Phillip.
Call us on 03 9209 6777 during business hours.
Reporting dead birds on private property and non-Council managed land:
Council is unable to collect dead birds from private property. Residents should avoid handling the bird and seek advice from the DEECA or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Reporting discovery of sick birds:
Report sick birds to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) by:
- Completing the Wildlife Influenza Investigation online form or
- Calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
We understand this may be distressing, but every report helps protect Victoria's wildlife.
For the latest updates and more information, visit:
- The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture's birdflu website
- The Victorian Government's Department of Agriculture