Australia had years to prepare for the arrival of bird flu. The deadly, highly transmissible H5N1 strain emerged in late 2020 in Asia, before spreading to every other continent bar Australia.

After the first case was confirmed in Western Australia on June 19, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt claimed the nation was well prepared. Preparations include A$47 million of on-ground action such as improving habitat and controlling introduced species, as well as boosting surveillance. The virus is now spreading domestically, with mass mortality events being detected.

What the arrival of bird flu shows is how reliant conservation in Australia is on volunteers. Early on, the first people responding to sick birds were often volunteers and wildlife carers – even though authorities have consistently asked the public to “avoid, record and report” any sick or dead animals. Wildlife carers in Western Australia called for help and protective gear after finding themselves on the frontline. The WA government is now distributing PPE.

As the virus spreads, nursing sick birds and animals is no longer possible for volunteers. We will need these volunteers to report sightings and support injured wildlife. They will need support.

Why is Australia so reliant on volunteers?

Australia is wealthy and has a huge variety of species. Almost half the economy has a moderate to very high reliance on nature. But spending on conservation is very low.

There is no doubt that conservation is........

© The Conversation