00:02Each day, citizen scientists Susan Belperio and Joanna Williams patrol Glenelg Beach in
00:08Adelaide, monitoring for sick and dead birds.
00:11Now we're seeing more sick birds, birds that are walking with, say, a toxic type of gait,
00:17they're not able to hold their heads well, their wings are drooping.
00:21We really shudder to think what might lie ahead in the way of potential mass mortalities
00:28of birds on this very beach.
00:30Like what's been found near Cape Jaffa of the state's south east coast,
00:35testing's yet to confirm if the more than 80 sick and dead greater crested terns found there
00:40had H5 bird flu.
00:42The discovery of these birds really shows that we are entering into the next phase of the outbreak.
00:49Prompting concerns for threatened native species.
00:52Such as the fairy tern which breeds on the koorong or the eastern hooded plover
00:57which is a beach nesting shorebird.
01:00We're obviously concerned about this but I think we are very well prepared.
01:04As H5 bird flu spreads across the country, authorities and conservationists say practical measures
01:10like keeping dogs on leads at the beach can help protect bird life and keep pets safe.
01:16If the dogs are really prone to wanting to chase birds to keep them on a leash,
01:20so that they are not entering into the birds' habitats or putting the birds under additional stress.
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