Seabirds benefit from weed-free nesting grounds as Parks prepares for H5 bird flu

Wednesday 26 August 2026

Seabirds nesting on an island in the Coral Sea Marine Park are already benefitting from an ecological restoration project as Parks Australia prepares for H5 avian influenza (bird flu).

The South Islet Ecological Restoration Project, funded by an Australian Government investment of more than $1 million, aims to restore nesting habitat for seabirds by removing invasive weeds and revegetating with native plant species on the island.

Australia has confirmed detections of H5 bird flu. This is a serious bird flu strain that has been circulating globally. Importantly, H5 bird flu has not been detected in the Coral Sea Marine Park.

These restoration efforts are now more important than ever and will help build stronger populations and healthier habitat. This work will support at-risk native species to better withstand and recover from the potential impacts of H5 bird flu should it spread.

Staff working during a sunset on South Islet surrounded by flying birds.

South Islet in the Willis Islets, commonly known as Willis Island, is a key breeding habitat for seabirds including sooty terns, brown noddies, and wedge-tailed shearwaters. It is also home to a staffed Bureau of Meteorology weather station.

Invasive weeds including Mossman river grass, dwarf poinsettia and cat’s whiskers have spread across about 35 per cent of the island’s 4.8 hectares of vegetation, out-competing native vegetation and sadly reducing seabird nesting areas.

In May, an expedition team of Parks Australia officers, Indigenous Rangers from Mandubarra Indigenous Land and Sea Inc., and contractors spent 15 days working on the island, with the assistance of Bureau staff, removing weeds and trialling different methods of revegetation. A second team returned for two weeks at the end of July to continue work.

Parks Australia project lead, Dr Roberta Johnson said on the first trip, they spent more than 400 hours working in among the birds, taking great care not to disturb the parents, chicks and eggs.

“We cleared about 5 tonnes of weeds by hand, and we could actually see the results of our work in real time, with sooty terns and brown noddies moving into nest in some cleared areas within hours,” she said.

“Returning two months later, we were delighted to see that more of the areas we weeded were being occupied by nesting birds.

“This will help safeguard our seabird populations by protecting their breeding sites, while also restoring the island’s ecosystem for the long term, and prevent the spread of these weeds to other nearby islands.

“Our islands and reefs are home to unique species found nowhere else, but their ecosystems are delicate and vulnerable to threats ranging from H5 bird flu to climate change, so protecting them is a priority.”

This is one of two ecological restoration projects underway on islands in the Coral Sea Marine Park. The other is on Bird Islet at Wreck Reefs in the southern Coral Sea Marine Park, addressing areas of couch grass, green amaranth and nightshade that are threatening seabird nesting sites.

The Coral Sea Marine Park is Australia’s largest marine park, covering nearly one million square kilometres of ocean off Queensland, and protecting 60 islets and cays, as well as vast reef areas.

Parks Australia manages 60 Australian Marine Parks, covering a total of 3.8 million square kilometres, or 43% of Australian waters.

Stay in touch