**Indigenous Rangers Monitor Bird Flu Threat in Northern Australia**

On a remote beach in the Northern Territory, Indigenous rangers and a government veterinarian are conducting crucial biosecurity work. They are searching for bird droppings as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the H5N1 bird flu, which has devastated wildlife and poultry industries worldwide.

The H5N1 strain has reached nearly every part of the globe, including Antarctica, leading to the deaths of wild animals and hundreds of millions of commercial poultry. It has even infected dairy herds in the United States. However, Australia has yet to report any cases of this virus. Farmers are eager to keep it that way, as the arrival of H5N1 could severely impact the country's multi-billion-dollar chicken meat and egg industries.

Migratory birds are considered a significant risk for introducing the virus into Australia. On the shores of the Timor Sea, Paige McLeod and her fellow Bulgul rangers begin their work early in the morning to collect the best samples. "The UV rays degrade the samples, so it's usually around 7 o'clock in the morning when the sun is starting to come up," McLeod explained. "The tide's slowly going out, and all the birds are just here."

During this season, migratory birds that may have interacted with infected wildlife are arriving in Australia. Experts are particularly concerned that this spring could see the arrival of the H5 strain. Veterinary officer Fiona Knox from the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy emphasized the importance of the rangers' work.

"The area of northern Australia is absolutely vast. We're talking about very remote areas," Knox said. "You can see today there's lots of shorebirds; without the team of rangers here collecting the samples, we wouldn't be covering this country. It just forms another opportunity to increase our surveillance for bird flu."

In the Northern Territory, the last commercial poultry farm closed decades ago. The chicken industries are primarily located in Western Australia and Queensland. However, the rangers in northern Australia are on the front lines of monitoring for bird flu.

In 2024, outbreaks of local strains of bird flu led to significant egg shortages, with about 10 percent of Australia's laying hens either dying or being culled. Poultry farmers warn that an H5N1 outbreak would be even more catastrophic for their businesses.

Equipped with a swabbing kit similar to a COVID-19 test, McLeod carefully collects samples from bird droppings. These samples will be sent to a government lab in Darwin for analysis. McLeod recognizes the importance of her role.

"Honestly, at first I didn't know what we were doing … but as time went on, I've realized, yeah, this is pretty important," she said. "If we do end up getting positives [samples], we'd know if the bird flu did end up getting into Australia."

While McLeod is focused on protecting farmers, she is also concerned about local wildlife. Iconic birds like the magpie goose are culturally significant and serve as vital food sources for remote communities.

"If [bird flu] does end up getting into the magpie geese, the population would probably drop," McLeod warned. "And that would mean hunting them would probably be a no-go."

As the rangers continue their surveillance, the threat of H5N1 looms large, underscoring the importance of their work in safeguarding both agriculture and wildlife in Australia.