Australia bird flu news: "Indicator status" of black swans

 

Headline:  The Guardian, 8/23/2026

Narelle Towie reports:

When the black swans start dying, Western Australians will know that bird flu has truly arrived. 

The birds are an “indicator species” because once they are infected with the H5N1 virus, they are more likely to die than survive, according to the University of Queensland virologist Kirsty Short. 

“If avian influenza gets into a place where there are black swans … then I think we will see swan mortality and if there’s a significant number of swans, significant mortality.” 

WA’s black swans are deeply woven into its identity. As the state’s official bird emblem, the species is emblazoned on buildings, stamps, the flag and the coat of arms.

Selected other bird flu posts (all from 2026):

Australia

Australia reports first mammal death from bird flu.  (8/24)

Kangaroo Island residents worry about spread of virus.  (8/23)

So far wild birds but not poultry affected .  (8/21)

Bird flu kills 1000 crested terns in South Australia.  (8/21)

Cause of mass death of birds in Victoria not yet confirmed.  (8/20)

Philip Island penguin dies of bird flu.  (8/17)

First reported case in Narooma sets off worries over impact on tourism business.  (8/16)

In Australia, avian flu takes a toll on wild birds.  (8/15)

Officials considers closing of public areas.  (8/13)

Chicken lockdown expands.  (8/13)

Poultry events cancelled at agricultural show.  (8/9)

New South Wales reports first case in native species.  (8/9)

Poultry farms in VIctoria go into lockdown,  (8/8)

Australia is facing a bird flu outbreak in wildlife.  (8/2)

Seagull tests positive for bird flu in Australia.  (8/1)

WATT Poultry finally gets around to reporting on bird flu in Australia and New Zealand after 6-week layoff.  (8/7)

Australia fears  a bird flu disaster is looming.  (8/6)

Spread of bird flu in Australia.  (8/4)

Mass mortality bird flu event in Australia.  (8/3)

Australia sounds the alarm for local birds and sea lions.  (7/31)

Bird flu cases confirmed in South Australia.  (7/30)

Victoria reports first case of bird flu.  (7/30)

Will these 7 suspected cases of bird flu in South Australia be confirmed?   (7/28)

Two cases of bird flu reported in South Australia.  (7/26)

Queensland reports first case of bird flu.  (7/24)

Detected cases of bird flu in Australia jumps to 17.  (7/23)

6th and 7th cases of bird flu reported in Australia.  (7/4)

Australia reports 4th case of bird flu.  (6/28)

Australia confirms 3rd case of bird flu.  (6/25)

Bird flu has now reached every continent.  (6/23)

First bird flu case in Australia leads to poultry farm lockdowns.  (6/23)

Australia reports its first case of bird flu.  (6/19)

New Zealand

Some hens will soon be released from lockdown.  (8/25)

New Zealand reports 3rd case of bird flu.  (8/23)

Concern over survival of some species.  (8/20)

Bird-proofing sheds against bird flu.  (8/20)

New Zealand avian flu news:  Ditch those bird feeders, folks!  (8/12)

Avian flu threatens rare birds of New Zealand.  (8/10)

Largest New Zealand egg producer puts free-range chickens in lockdown as precautionary measure.  (7/20)

First bird flu case in New Zealand creates atmosphere of panic.  (7/20

New Zealand reports first case of bird flu.  (7/16)

USA:  Indiana

After 72 cases in 2026 and 200 since 2022, Indiana is declared free of bird flu.  (8/14)

Bird flu continues to ravage duck flocks in northern Indiana.  (6/8)

Indiana bird flu tally reaches 45 so far this year.  (6/5)

More outbreaks of bird flu reported in Indiana.  (6/5)

Indiana reports another case of bird flu.  (5/14)

After more than a month's hiatus, bird flu returns to Indiana.  (5/12)

Indiana has been hard hit by bird flu so far in 2026.  (4/21)

2026 bird flu tally in Indiana reaches 40 cases.  (4/11)

Indiana has reported 39 cases of bird flu so far this year (96 days).  (4/7)

Indiana continues to be ground zero for bird flu outbreaks.  (3/31)

In one day, Indiana boosts its year-to-date tally of bird flu cases to 32.  (3/27)

Indiana boosts its year-to-date tally of bird flu cases to 29.  (3/26)

And the bird flu hits just keep on comin' in Indiana this month.  (3/25)'

Indiana reports two more cases of bird flu bringing its tally to 26 so far this year.  (3/24)

Three more cases of bird flu reported in Indiana.  (3/23)

Crash leaves dead ducks from bird flu looking like road kill in Indiana.  (3/21)

Northeast Indiana continues to be hot spot for bird flu.  (3/20)

Indiana reports four more cases of bird flu.  (3/13)

Two cases of bird flu reported in LaGrange County Indiana.  (3/3)

Bird flu outbreak reported in Daviess County Indiana.  (3/2)

Boone County Indiana reports bird flu at commercial breeder turkey farm.  (2/18)

Duck flock hit with avian flu in Elkhart County, Indiana.  (2/17)

Commercial turkey flock in southwest Indiana hit with bird flu.  (2/17)

Bird flu wipes out hundreds of crows in Terre Haute, Indiana.  (2/10)

Indiana reports 2nd case of bird flu in 2026.  (1/25)

Flock of 3,000 ducks infected by bird flu in Indiana.  (1/23)

Bird flu continues to wreak havoc in Indiana.  (1/1)

USA:  Pennsylvania

Lancaster County Pennsylvania reports yet another case of bird flu. (4/1)

Since 2022 Pennsylvania has tallied 480 cases of bird flu affecting 16,000,000 domesticated birds.  (3/27)

Bird flu wipes out 850,000 egg-laying hens in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  (3/20)

Pennsylvania reports 28th case of bird flu so far this season.  (3/19)

More bird flu cases in Pennsylvania.  (3/10)

Lancaster County Pennsylvania is ground zero for this winter's bird flu outbreaks.  (3/1)

And the bird flu hits just keep on comin' for Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  (2/20)

'Unprecedented' outbreak of bird flu in ravaged Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  (2/18)

So far in 2026 Lancaster County Pennsylvania has recorded 2,400,000 cases of bird flu.  (2/16)

Lancaster County Pennsylvania is currently ground zero for bird flu.  (2/13)

Bird flu hits Lancaster County Pennsylvania again.  (2/12)

Second egg-laying facility in one week is hit with bird flu in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  (2/5)

Bird flu reported at Pennsylvania egg laying facility with 1,500,000 hens.  (2/2)

32,800 ducks infected by bird flu in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  (1/2)

USA:  Utah

Weber County Utah declares milk production emergency due to bird flu.  (7/25)

Utah reports another outbreak of bird flu.  (7/17)

Box Elder County Utah declares milk production emergency due to bird flu impacts.  (7/11)

Bird flu in Utah:  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not approve of this message from Box Elder County.  (7/11)

Utah reports outbreak of bird flu affecting 1.2 million hens.  (7/8)

Utah bird flu news:  Mandatory testing for all dairy farms in Box Elder County.  (6/27)

Utah dairy herd tests positive for bird flu.  (6/7)

Bird flu on the rise in Utah.  (3/6)

Bird flu hits wild birds throughout Utah.  (2/16)