14/08/2026
⚠️ PLEASE TAKE CARE ON OUR SOUTH EAST BEACHES ⚠️
The South East coastline has been heavily impacted by sick and dying seabirds, and reports continue to increase.
Maureen Christie, Secretary of Friends of Shorebirds SE, has spent years conserving and tagging birds for research. She describes the heartbreaking situation:
“You walk onto the beach and there's one dead bird, and two steps on there's another dead bird, and you turn around and take one step the other way and there's another dead bird. It’s absolutely awful because there’s nothing you can do about it. They can’t be saved.”
Please do your part to protect wildlife, pets and domestic birds:
❗️ Avoid walking dogs on affected beaches where possible. If you do visit the beach, keep dogs on a lead and well away from sick or dead birds.
❗️ DO NOT touch sick or dead birds. If handling is necessary as part of authorised response activities, appropriate PPE and biosecurity procedures are essential.
❗️ Report sick or dead birds to the appropriate hotline/authorities. 1800 675 888
❗️ Keep pet food and water bowls indoors or covered. Wild birds may contaminate outdoor bowls with droppings.
❗️ Take extra care around backyard chickens and other domestic birds. Avoid transferring contamination from beaches or wild birds to your animals.
If you have accidentally touched a sick or dead bird, thoroughly wash your hands and clean/change potentially contaminated clothing and footwear before interacting with other people, pets or poultry.
Please don't approach birds simply to check whether they're alive. Keep your distance, keep pets away and report what you see.
The number of cases is increasing. Please help protect our wildlife and the animals in your care by taking these precautions seriously.
Please DO NOT bring sick, injured or dead birds into the clinic without calling us first. Please phone ahead so we can advise you on what to do and ensure the appropriate biosecurity precautions are in place. Do not pick up or transport a bird unless you have been advised to do so.
