Hays Inlet: Bird Flu Case Study

The emergence of H5N1 Avian Influenza and the potential impact on Hays Inlet in Southeast Queensland: A Case Study

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) reached mainland Australia in June 2026 and has since been detected in wild seabirds in Southeast Queensland. Its proximity to Brisbane places connected waterways and vulnerable ecosystems, including Hays Inlet, at immediate biosecurity risk.

Hays Inlet is a protected estuarine wetland in Moreton Bay Marine Park, supporting rich marine life, migratory shorebirds and other native wildlife.

Quarterly surveys by Birders of the South Pine River and REF Environmental have recorded 153 bird species across 43 surveys since 2015, highlighting the inlet’s biodiversity and ecological importance. This report applies the Australian Government’s 2026 H5N1 risk scores for more than 3,000 bird and mammal species to long-term Hays Inlet survey data. Note this report is a potential scenario, hopefully the H5N1 won't escalate in Queensland.  Please feel free to read or download (just click the save icon) the full report to explore the findings, local risks and recommended actions. We have also included a two-page fact sheet as an extra resource.

Read or Download Case Study Report

Bird Flu at Hays Inlet Factsheet

​.The Redcliffe Environmental Forum acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country in and around Moreton Bay and the Redcliffe Peninsula, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.  It pays respect to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past, present and emerging..