The number of dead birds at Lake Weeroona in Bendigo, Victoria, rose to 79 on Sunday, Oct. 4, most of them ibises, according to the Bendigo Advertiser. Initial testing has come back negative for H5 bird flu, but what killed the birds remains unknown.

The deaths have drawn attention because H5 bird flu, the strain behind mass wildlife deaths on several continents, reached Victoria in July. Wildlife rescuers described sick birds that could not walk properly, and authorities moved quickly to test samples.

The answer matters for residents, pet owners and wildlife carers in Bendigo, and for anyone watching how far the virus has spread in Australia. Even if Lake Weeroona proves unrelated — and early tests point that way — Australian officials have said H5 bird flu can no longer be eradicated from the country's wild birds.

Developing Story Note: This report covers new developments involving dead ibises at Lake Weeroona in Bendigo, Victoria. Information may change as forecasters, emergency officials, researchers, courts, or agencies release additional findings. Latest verified update: Bendigo Advertiser report published 6 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, with the bird count current through Sunday, Oct. 4.

A Lakeside Die-Off Under Investigation

Volunteers with Bendigo Wildlife Rescue responded to a report of a sick bird on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and found dozens of dead ibises along with some water hens. By Friday, Oct. 2, the count had reached 59 ibises, ABC News reported.

Avery Barnett-Dacey, a volunteer with the rescue group, described the sick birds to ABC. "They're unable to walk properly," she said. "A lot of them are just sitting down. They've got a head wobble and almost like a skyward gaze."

Victoria's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) said on Oct. 2 that preliminary testing had returned negative results for H5N1, but authorities had not yet ruled it out. The Bendigo Advertiser later reported the testing came back negative on Friday. No official cause of death has been announced, and no agency media release on the event had been published as of Oct. 5.

James Todd, DEECA's chief biodiversity officer, urged caution. "I think the best thing to do is probably not speculate about what it is," he told the ABC. He added that once H5 is ruled out, "they can then do some further testing to determine the cause of death," and noted that it is "not uncommon, for water birds particularly, to die in those sorts of numbers."

The dead birds are on an island in the lake that is closed to the public. The City of Greater Bendigo said it was following Agriculture Victoria's direction to leave the birds in place.

Bird Flu's Spread Across Victoria

The concern is grounded in recent history. Agriculture Victoria announced the state's first H5 detection on July 30 in a greater crested tern at Portland, in the southwest. Chief Veterinary Officer Graeme Cooke said the variant "differs from previous strains and has been known to cause large numbers of deaths in wild birds and some mammals."

Detections spread quickly to other coastal and inland sites, including Phillip Island, where little penguins were affected. By mid-August, the federal government counted 53 events in Victoria and 219 nationally, though it has since changed how it reports cases.

Officials have also accepted that the virus is here to stay. A National Management Group communique from July 29 stated that H5 bird flu in wildlife "is not technically feasible to eradicate following recent detections and evidence of local transmission." Australia has shifted from trying to eliminate the virus to managing its effects.

The reason is biological — wild birds fly long distances, mix in large flocks and carry the virus across regions. Wildlife Health Australia has said culling or dispersing wild animals does not work to control avian influenza.

Threatened Species and Exhausted Rescuers

That shift has pushed conservation agencies to plan for worse outcomes. In late September, Todd told the ABC that DEECA was considering direct interventions for vulnerable species not yet in captivity. "We might consider doing some sort of emergency extraction," he said. Zoos Victoria and other facilities already hold populations of threatened birds such as the orange-bellied parrot and regent honeyeater.

In Bendigo, the strain has fallen on volunteers. Barnett-Dacey told the Advertiser that most rescuers were "very fatigued," and those handling possible bird flu cases could not treat other animals. The group scaled back its operations on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The Advertiser noted that a silver gull from the lake was also tested and a magpie from nearby Huntly was taken for testing. It is not clear whether those birds are connected.

Protecting Pets, Families and Wildlife Carers

The human risk remains low. Victoria's Department of Health says there have been no locally acquired human infections in Australia. Health officials advise people to avoid sick or dead birds, keep up seasonal flu vaccination and seek medical care if they become unwell within 10 days of bird contact, calling ahead and wearing a mask.

Residents should not touch dead or sick birds and should keep dogs away from them. Sightings of sick or dead wild birds can be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline at 1800 675 888. Wildlife carers and people who keep backyard poultry face the greatest exposure and should follow Agriculture Victoria's biosecurity advice.

For U.S. readers, the pattern is familiar. The same H5N1 lineage has spread through American wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle since 2022, and the advice is the same: do not handle sick or dead wildlife, and report die-offs to state wildlife agencies.

The next development will be an official cause of death for the Lake Weeroona birds, and any further testing results from Agriculture Victoria. Until then, the die-off is a local mystery set against a statewide outbreak that officials say is now permanent.

Developing Story Timeline

Sunday, Oct. 4 (AEDT): The Bendigo Advertiser reports 79 dead birds at Lake Weeroona, most of them ibises, with the cause still unknown.

Friday, Oct. 2 (AEST): The ABC reports 59 dead ibises and preliminary negative H5N1 tests, with authorities yet to rule the virus out.

Wednesday, Sept. 30: Bendigo Wildlife Rescue volunteers find dead and sick ibises at the lake.

July 30: Agriculture Victoria announces the state's first H5 bird flu detection, in a tern at Portland.

What Readers Want to Know

What happened at Lake Weeroona? Dozens of ibises and some other water birds died at the lake in Bendigo, Victoria, starting around Sept. 30. The count reached 79 dead birds by Sunday, Oct. 4.

Was bird flu the cause? Initial tests were negative for H5 bird flu, according to DEECA and local reporting. The actual cause of death has not been confirmed.

Can bird flu be eradicated from Australia? No. Australia's National Management Group said in July that eradicating H5 bird flu from wildlife is not technically feasible, so authorities are now managing its impacts.

Is there a risk to people? Victoria's health department says the risk is low and there have been no locally acquired human cases in Australia. People should still avoid sick or dead birds.

What should residents do if they find dead birds? Do not touch them, keep pets away and report them to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline at 1800 675 888.

When will the cause be known? Officials said further testing would follow once H5 was ruled out. No date for final results has been announced.