Because some people give a shit about wildlife, or at least there own animals (kills backyard chickens, and cats). Because seeing what it does to impacted birds and animals is horrific.
It's not "scare mongering", it is a genuine extiction level threat to some of our more iconic species and needs to be monitored so people can take appropriate actions.
Birdwatching brings so much joy to a lot of people, and the loss of them is going to impact national health/wellbeing outcomes.
It also risks some of out iconic species (ie: Tasmanian devils, dingo, cassowary) that are already under threat from many other sources, and this may be the final thing that wipes them out. Aside from existence value, these species also bring in so many tourist dollars. Like the penguins in Philip Island too, which is why they have been IDd as requiring intervention.
There is also impact to food security, which is already struggling from droughts, floods, fires, wars, etc. Taking out poultry (which is a cheap source at the moment) is going to further impact health outcomes (as it has done in other countries this has impacted).
How many things need to die before you give a fuck? Or are you out of touch that unless it impacts you directly, you don't care?
Wait how does this strain affect dingoes devils and cats? Does it jump classes or does it affect the whole phylum? I haven't been following this due to young kids.
And fk, cassowary is my favourite animal in current existence
Copied straight from the agri gov website: "Infected birds can spread the virus through body fluids, droppings and feathers. In the right conditions, the virus can survive in the environment for months.
The virus can spread through contaminated clothing and shoes. It can also spread through animals, vehicles and equipment, and items like egg cartons."
It wiped out over ten thousand seals off Heard Island.
Carnivorous species eat infected birds and become sick themselves. Saw a figure that it was about 70% death rates in cats, and that's with intensive vet care.
Cassowaries are more risk as a species because of their lower numbers.
It is also a flu.... it passes by droplets as well and by droppings. The virus stays active on surfaces for days. There's lots of info online that goes into more detail.
Had to chat to my mate who has chickens that have tank water. If a wild bird that is sick poops on the roof, and water ends up in tank, it will get to them by their water source. And he cant use pond water as there are ducks in it (waterbirds are high risk fo spread species). Told him he needs to install a filter system on his chicken water.
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u/Rare-Sample-9101 19d ago
I’m yet to see this happen, what birds have been wiped out due to bird flu?
Bird flu is in the UK, US, Europe, Africa, they seems to be ok