Western Port Biosphere Community Forums

Beginning with “round tables”, the Biosphere Foundation has always been keen to engage with our community. With our annual series of Community Forums, we explore topical issues in detail and give people an opportunity to ask questions and raise their concerns.

2025

Western Port- Migratory Birds & Avian Flu Community Forum

Every year, over 10,000 migratory birds arrive in Western Port — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and home to internationally recognised Ramsar-listed wetlands. On Friday October 10 we celebrated World Migratory Bird Day with a special community forum exploring the challenges these birds face — from habitat pressures to the looming risk of avian influenza — and how we can work together to protect them.

Key Objectives:

Highlight the significance of Western Port for migratory birds.
Explain the imminent risks of avian influenza to local biodiversity.
Build connections between community, industry and experts.
Share local monitoring and citizen science efforts.

We’d like to thank the Port of Hastings Corporation for sponsoring the venue and catering for this event. Their support, in their role as the Port Operator for Western Port, helps make community events like this possible.

Please note, this sponsorship is not affiliated with the Port of Hastings’ proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, which is currently progressing through an independent environmental approval process. This acknowledgement is made in the interest of transparency and integrity, and attendees are encouraged to raise any concerns they may have with either the Port of Hastings Corporation or the Western Port Biosphere Foundation.

Guest Speakers

Dr Michelle Wille

Dr. Michelle Wille is a senior research fellow at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza and University of Melbourne. She has done important work in elucidating the ecology and evolution of avian influenza in Australian wild birds, has led enhanced surveillance for the early warning of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and has contributed substantially to Australia’s preparedness and response around highly pathogenic avian influenza. Michelle is also interested in virus discovery and virus community ecology and revealing the factors which dictate virus diversity. You can view Dr Michelle’s presentation here.

Kate Gorringe-Smith

Melbourne/Naarm-based artist Kate Gorringe-Smith has been using art as a tool to engage the public with migratory shorebirds and their habitat for over a decade. Her first major project, The Flyway Print Exchange was launched in 2014 and involved 20 artists from nine countries of the East Asian-Australian Flyway. It has been exhibited throughout Australia and in Singapore, India, Indonesia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. In 2017 she launched the ongoing Overwintering Project to raise awareness for migratory shorebirds, our most endangered group of birds, and their habitat. It is designed to allow people of any age to join. To date, the Project has involved over 40 exhibitions throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Kate also runs workshops for people of all ages and organizes excursions to shorebird habitat to allow people to encounter these wonderful birds in person. Kate studied printmaking at RMIT in the 1990s while she was working at BirdLife Australia as Assistant Editor on the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Her artwork has been shortlisted in the Silk Cut, Burnie, Geelong and Castlemaine Experimental Print Prizes and the Manly Artists Book Prize. You can view Kate’s presentation here. www.kategorringesmith.com.au www.theoverwinteringproject.com

Richard Loyn

Richard is an ecologist with special interests in forests, fire, wetlands, conservation, threatened species, birds, mammals and sustainable development. He initiated the Western Port survey of waterbirds in 1973 as a project of the Bird Observers Club and is proud that it continues as a citizen science project of BirdLife Australia, now in its 52nd year. Richard worked for many years for the Victorian Government, mainly at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. In 2013 he established a consultancy (Eco Insights), conducting strategic projects in Australia and occasionally overseas. He has published >300 papers and reports, and was awarded the D.L. Serventy Medal by Birdlife Australia in 2014, the David Ashton award for biodiversity research four times and a senior doctorate (DSc) by the University of Melbourne in 2019. He is an adjunct professor at La Trobe University, a Fellow of the International Ornithologists Union and past president of Swamps Rivers & Ranges. He has been a member of the Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team since its formation in the 1980s, the Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Committee for Melbourne Water in relation to the Ramsar-listed Western Treatment Plant since the 1990s (currently co-chair), and the Threatened Species Committee for Birdlife Australia since 2014. Richard developed the timed area-search method for counting bush-birds (now widely used in Australia) and instigated many long-term monitoring programs on bush birds and waterbirds. His research has informed controversial policy and management issues such as duck hunting, logging, fire and forest fragmentation, and it has opened new windows in understanding ecological roles of birds including despotic native species such as Noisy Miners. His team’s work on forest owls protected 170,000 ha of forest to conserve those top predators and the ecosystems on which they depend. He and his family love to travel and have visited every continent, looking for wildlife and exploring remote places. Richard recognises that birds and other wildlife provide unique windows on the natural world, helping us conserve its diversity in partnership with local people. You can view Richard’s presentation here.

Useful Links

High pathogenic avian influenza – DEECA’s wildlife page
Avian influenza (bird flu) – DAFF – Commonwealth page
H5 bird flu – Wildlife Health Australia
Guidelines for managing dead birds and wildlife on public and private land | Avian influenza | Poultry diseases | Animal diseases | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria
Avian influenza information for backyard poultry owners | Avian influenza | Poultry diseases | Animal diseases | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria (this one is more general information and not specific to H5 bird flu.
Report sick or dead wild birds and wildlife | Avian influenza | Poultry diseases | Animal diseases | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria

Importantly:

What to do if you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife with signs of H5N1.

AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment
RECORD what you see
REPORT to DEECA using this form or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 in line with the guidance below.

Report clusters of 5 or more sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.

Report even one

sick or dead penguin or pelican
sick or dead bird of prey, such as hawks, owls, eagles
sick or dead black swan
sick or dead marine mammal, such as seals, sea lions, dolphins.

Following a report, DEECA will evaluate the need for diagnostic testing for further investigation.

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