Feral pests could hinder bird flu containment in NSW's Macquarie Marshes, landholders urge coordinated action

The Macquarie Marshes in central north-west New South Wales, a key habitat for tens of thousands of waterbirds, face heightened risk from the H5 strain of bird flu, according to conservationists. David Duncan of the Macquarie Wetlands Association warns that feral pigs, foxes and cats, whose numbers have surged since the 2017-2020 drought, could act as vectors and make any outbreak harder to contain, calling for coordinated, district-wide pest management.

University of NSW biologist Richard Kingsford notes that dense bird gatherings facilitate rapid virus spread and could kill up to half of a population, especially during dry El Niño conditions. The NSW government, which recently recorded 32 H5 cases on the coast, advises landholders to limit grazing near bird congregations and keep dogs away from wild birds, though practical challenges remain. An information session in Warren aims to clarify biosecurity steps, and authorities urge the public to report sick or dead birds without handling them.