Breaking: Bird flu suspected as 1,000 birds found dead in three mass mortality events

Bird flu suspected after more than 1,000 birds found dead in SA, more deaths in TasmaniaPosted Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 2:47pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 2:47pm, updated Thu 20 Aug 2026 at 3:36pmThu 20 Aug 2026 at 3:36pmSurveillance teams have discovered more than 1,000 dead crested terns, the premier said. (ABC News: Carl Saville)In short:The deaths of more than 1,000 birds in South Australia and 28 penguins in Tasmania have been linked to the spread of bird flu.SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told parliament the crested terns had died in three mass mortalities on remote islands off the state's coast, and that they were "presumed" to have died from the H5N1 bird flu strain.Authorities in Tasmania will conduct testing, after three crested terns and 28 penguins were found dead on the coast of King Island. South Australian authorities have identified three mass bird mortality events involving more than 1,000 crested terns, which are "presumed" to have died from H5N1 bird flu.Premier Peter Malinauskas told SA Parliament the deaths occurred on remote offshore islands including Troubridge Island off Yorke Peninsula and two small islands off Kangaroo Island known as North Page and South Page.The deaths were detected on Wednesday.As of today, South Australia has recorded 177 confirmed H5 bird flu cases.The SA government is also investigating a suspected case involving a little penguin from Kangaroo Island.The discoveries of the mass mortalities were made by the state government's surveillance teams and represent a "significant escalation" of bird flu in the state, Mr Malinauskas said."The loss of more than 1,000 birds is deeply concerning, and the state government is treating these events with the utmost seriousness," he said."Of particular concern, we are also investigating a suspected case involving a little penguin from Kangaroo Island."The mass mortalities were revealed in a ministerial statement, which the premier read out to parliament's lower house.He added that no mass mortality had been reported in mammals, and that H5N1 had not been detected in poultry or livestock.South Australia is carrying out surveillance on the ground as well as as through aerial patrols conducted by planes, helicopters and drones.Separate mortality event in TasmaniaIn a separate mortality event, more than two dozen penguins have been found dead in Tasmania, a week on from the arrival of the deadly H5 bird flu in the state.A surveillance team has found 28 dead penguins and three dead crested terns on the coast of King Island.The birds are being tested for the deadly H5 bird flu, which has already killed seven birds on the Bass Strait Island.More than two dozen penguins were found dead on King Island. (Supplied: Mel Wells )The virus was found for the first time in Tasmania last Thursday in a brown skua at Rocky Cape on the north-west coast.Since then, the region's death toll has continued to climb, and extended to crested terns and silver gulls.Seven of the 11 deaths have been on King Island."Unfortunately, our surveillance team found 28 dead penguins and three dead crested terns at the Port of Grassy on King Island yesterday," Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) Incident Controller Wes Ford said."Tasmanians care deeply about our wildlife, and particularly our penguins, so we understand that reports like these may be distressing for the community."Samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing with results expected during the week."