community - 2026-07-05

Dead seabird found at Narrabeen Beach prompts exclusion zone amid H5N1 concerns

Source: www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au

Authorities established an exclusion zone at Narrabeen Beach on Saturday afternoon after a dead bird was found on the sand in front of South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club, prompting fears the H5N1 bird flu may have reached the Northern Beaches. The discovery matters locally because H5N1 has now been confirmed in wild seabirds in Australia, and health authorities say the virus can spread to humans and other mammals.

Authorities established an exclusion zone at Narrabeen Beach on Saturday afternoon after a dead bird was found on the sand in front of South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club, prompting fears the H5N1 bird flu may have reached the Northern Beaches. The discovery matters locally because H5N1 has now been confirmed in wild seabirds in Australia, and health authorities say the virus can spread to humans and other mammals. Shortly before 3pm on Saturday, 4 July, Surf Life Saving NSW notified authorities after the bird was found on the beach. The exclusion zone is expected to stay in place until the bird is collected and taken for testing to confirm the cause of death. There has been no formal identification of the bird found at Narrabeen. Based on observation, it is believed to be a seabird, likely a Little Black Cormorant, a species commonly found in coastal and wetland habitats. Little Black Cormorants are relatively nomadic and social, and are known to forage close to other birds, which raises concern about how quickly a highly pathogenic strain could move through local bird populations if there has been contact with an infected animal. The Narrabeen find comes as Australia records...