In short:
A wild bird that breeds exclusively in Tasmania will be targeted in a pilot vaccination program.
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that → breed → program
Wildlife experts hope to vaccinate 100 shy albatrosses against bird flu during the nesting season.
What’s next?
The vaccinations will take place over 3 to 4 weeks.
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vaccinations → hope → weeks
A vaccination program to protect an endemic Tasmanian seabird against the deadly H5 bird flu has begun on a remote Bass Strait island.
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program → protect → island
While no positive cases have been detected so far, the shy albatross is considered highly vulnerable to avian influenza.
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albatross → detect → influenza
The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE Tas) has this week embarked on a three- to four-week pilot program to vaccinate a hundred of the birds during nesting season.
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Department → embark → season
Each bird requires a double vaccination for it to be considered effective.
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it → require → vaccination
The shy albatross breeds exclusively at three tiny island colonies dotted around Tasmania's coast: Albatross Island, in the Hunter group near King Island; Mewstone, south of the Maatsuyker Islands; and Pedra Branca, off the south-eastern point of Tasmania.
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albatross → breed → Tasmania
Only the aptly named Albatross Island is accessible to humans.
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Island → name → humans
Difficulty vaccinating wild species
Wildlife experts face significant challenges in vaccinating the birds, with crews facing extreme conditions on the exposed island as they aim to safely administer the shots while minimising disturbance to the colony.
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they → vaccinate → colony
A rigorous assessment process was required to undertake the program, and the animal ethics committee has imposed strict permit conditions and biosecurity protocols.
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committee → require → conditions
NRE Tas' wildlife veterinarians and biologists will later monitor the birds via remote cameras and with return visits to the island.
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veterinarians → monitor → island
Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Guy Barnett said it was a world-first attempt to vaccinate albatross — a wild species — against bird flu.
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it → say → flu
"This is a unique opportunity because these birds can be safely approached while nesting, allowing us to provide the required two doses of vaccine for each bird over a three-to-four-week period and monitor individual birds in a way that's not possible for many wild species,” he said.
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he → approach → species
How are the birds captured and vaccinated?
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birds → capture → ?
NRE Tas wildlife biologist Sheryl Hamilton described the process to vaccinate the animals as complex.
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Hamilton → describe → animals
"Nesting birds are captured by hand by trained departmental personnel experienced in handling albatross," she said.
"Birds are held by a staff member while assessed, weighed and vaccinated, with an experienced wildlife vet overseeing the process.
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vet → nest → process
"
Temporary non-toxic paint and numbered nest markers are employed to help identify which birds are part of the study, which require a second vaccine also helping assist with remote monitoring in the future.
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which → employ → future
She said the program will pave the way for what will be done moving forward with vaccinating against the avian flu.
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what → say → flu
"This controlled vaccination program will help inform future decisions about whether a more comprehensive vaccination strategy could feasibly be used at a population level to play a role in protecting shy albatross from the impacts of H5 bird flu," she said.
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she → help → flu
Bird flu in Tasmania
Tasmania has recorded 50 H5 bird flu events across the state to date since the virus was first found in a brown skua in August, with no detections in commercial poultry, backyard flocks or mass mortality events.
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virus → record → poultry
Many of the positive events have been found on Bass Strait islands, with 150 little penguins found dead on King Island in late August.
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penguins → find → August
The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment encourages the public to report any sick, dead or injured birds online or via the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
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Department → encourage → 888
The Aporia