Bird flu has devastated wildlife around the world. What Australian birds are most at risk?

An Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Kalbarri, Western Australia. Waterbirds are highly susceptible to bird flu because they gather in large numbers for breeding and feeding. Photograph: David Dare Parker

The deadly H5 bird flu that has devastated wildlife populations globally since 2021 is spreading across Australia.

The federal government announced the first vaccination plans for captive native bird species last week and the Victorian government has moved to vaccinate wild little penguins after the first detections in terns on Phillip Island. On Saturday, the state government announced the death of a little penguin on the island, the first confirmed case of H5 bird flu in the species.