Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS
@euanritchie.bsky.social
Dad, ecologist & conservation scientist living on unceded Wurundjeri Country in Narrm. He/him. Research: https://euanritchie.org/ The Conversation: bit.ly/2rjBg9A Nature, SciComm, Politics, Music, Shodan🥋, 🏀, Carlton FC 🌈 Ally Born: 331 ppm CO2
I read, after the WA discovery: "We've got this, we're as prepared as we can be." to "Uh oh, there's nothing we can do." After it wiped out 75% of elephant seal pups on Heard Island & almost half the breeding population of females on Sth Georgia, what were they expecting? Get out the Kleenex?
My column on how capital becomes a death cult. Faced with a choice between profit and human life, the radical right chooses profit. Then it tries to persuade us that mass death is what we want. It's the new phase of climate denial: accept your fate, earthlings. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Murderous heat, an endangered food supply, decimated landscapes: embrace the Mediterranean life | George Monbiot
As climate disaster stares us in the face, the radical right says ‘Embrace the Mediterranean life’. Embrace death, more like it, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
theguardian.com
"We are the last continent in the world to have bird flu, it's quite remarkable that it hasn't come here already...that's meant...that we have had time … to make sure we're as well prepared as we possibly can be." But very frustratingly, we are not, Minister Watt! www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
'List of doom' outlines birds facing extinction if deadly flu spreads
A list of thousands of Australian species have been ranked by threat level as the deadly H5 bird flu spreads.
abc.net.au
Labor failures -COVID -NACC (&Robodebt) -AUKUS -Transparency/accountability -Whistleblower protection -Gaza&Iran -Gambling reform -Climate change -Media -Consultancies -Environment -Housing -CSIRO -Mates jobs -Politiciansexpenses -Electoral laws -Public education -Social cohesion -CFMEU -gas tax
At ~ 12:45 pm today, I'll be speaking on @7news.bsky.social about the possible impacts of H5N1 (bird flu) on Australian wildlife and what can and should be done. For context 👉 theconversation.com/powerless-ag... @aunz.theconversation.com
Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals
As a lethal bird flu spreads in Australian wildlife, it can be easy to think nothing can stop it. That’s an error – much can be done.
theconversation.com
Awful. Also, I hope a lot more care is taken with PPE, especially now that H5N1 is here. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
Dozens of tree martins strike shop windows in the Adelaide CBD
Follow the latest headlines from ABC News, Australia's most trusted media source, with live events, audio and on-demand video from the national broadcaster.
abc.net.au
There is a lot we can do to help Australia’s native wildlife survive and recover from H5N1 bird flu. It will require far greater care and investment from governments than we’ve seen so far. theconversation.com/powerless-ag...
Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals
As lethal bird flu spreads in Australian wildlife, it can be easy to think nothing can stop it. That’s an error – much can be done.
theconversation.com
Interesting. "Several of New South Wales’ leading environmental organisations have declined to disclose whether they have received funding from the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF), a charity lobbying for a controversial carbon credit scheme." michaelwest.com.au/ndas-for-nfp...
NDAs for NFPs? Environmental groups hide funding from carbon credits advocate - Michael West
Are Australian environmental protection charities being funded by a foundation that heavily promotes controversial carbon credits?
michaelwest.com.au
There is a lot we can do to help Australia’s native wildlife survive and recover from H5N1 bird flu. It will require far greater care and investment from governments than we’ve seen so far. theconversation.com/powerless-ag...
Powerless against bird flu? Not entirely. Here are 8 ways to help protect Australia’s birds and mammals
As lethal bird flu spreads in Australian wildlife, it can be easy to think nothing can stop it. That’s an error – much can be done.
theconversation.com
"In 2019, researchers estimated Australia had over 20,000 volunteer wildlife carers, each of whom spend an average of $5,300 of their own money on food and equipment annually (about $100 million in total). On average, each volunteer put in 32 hours a week."
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS@euanritchie.bsky.social · 2d agoThis article is excellent. It speaks volumes about how governments take so many in the environmental and conservation sectors and communities for granted theconversation.com/australia-ha.... As H5N1 begins to spread and devastate Australian wildlife the dire consequences of this are evident.
bsky.app/profile/euan... twist is that nz under the nationals are vaccinating wildlife and australia under labor don't seem terribly interested
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS@euanritchie.bsky.social · 3d agoKiwis showing up we Aussies, again. I've heard far too many times Australian officials saying it can't be done/it's all too hard.
The poultry industry has a pile of material developed through Animal Health Australia for production industries. There should be an environmental analogue. Wildlife is harder but just as, or more valuable. Response priorities and plans need public input if they are to be as good as they can be.
At 3:10 this afternoon (Darwin time) I'll be speaking with Liz Trevaskis on ABC Darwin about bird flu and what should be done to protect Australia's remarkable wildlife and ecosystems.
Will we get the plans when it's too late to make any necessary and timely improvements? The clock is ticking, and H5N1 is spreading, rapidly.
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS@euanritchie.bsky.social · yesterdayWhy have federal, state & territory governments not released their H5N1 response plans for native wildlife to the public & independent experts? They've had more than enough time to prepare. We have a right to know what's planned & what's not planned. Have a listen 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Why have federal, state & territory governments not released their H5N1 response plans for native wildlife to the public & independent experts? They've had more than enough time to prepare. We have a right to know what's planned & what's not planned. Have a listen 👉 www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Mass bird deaths likely as H5 bird flu spreads - ABC listen
Australians are being warned to brace for mass wildlife deaths as the H5 bird flu outbreak takes hold.
abc.net.au
This article is excellent. It speaks volumes about how governments take so many in the environmental and conservation sectors and communities for granted theconversation.com/australia-ha.... As H5N1 begins to spread and devastate Australian wildlife the dire consequences of this are evident.
Australia has long relied on volunteers and wildlife carers. As bird flu spreads, they will need support
Volunteers have been a mainstay of conservation in Australia. As bird flu spreads, they must be supported – and kept safe.
theconversation.com
This saga makes me so sad, the transition to increased Wilkerr (dingo) protection has not been handled well. Government could invest far more in measures to better protect livestock producers—e.g. strategic barrier fencing & guardian animals—& keeping Wilkerr safer. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
Farmer sends $40k bill to Victorian government for dingo attacks on sheep
Scott Keller doubts his invoice will be paid, but says the state's decision to cease the lethal control of wild dogs and dingoes should be highlighted ahead of the election.
abc.net.au
The most depressing thing about swift parrots is that this same story has been told repeatedly for the entire 16 years I’ve been working on them - same terrible conservation outcomes again and again with no changes to Tasmanian forest management www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07...
What happened when a rare bird found a place to nest near a logging coupe
It was late 2021 when one of Australia's rarest birds started to arrive in the native forests of Lonnavale. Ecologists had expected it but for a reacting forestry sector, it was "not sustainable".
abc.net.au
The choughs must be building a new nest, and frankly they look like shit 🤣🥲 such good birds
Ooh complex predator interactions in nature impact endangered Swift Parrots in forest under pressure from logging in #Tasmania Not “it’s all the introduced sugar gliders fault” and not logging parroted by the duopoly. Nature is complex & pollies should listen & not manipulate for political purposes
Gliders were thought to eat swift parrots. Cameras showed something different
For over a decade, sugar gliders have been considered a major threat to the critically endangered swift parrot. But new research has called that into question.
abc.net.au
Guess who LOVES PROFIT-BOOSTING WAR & couldn't care less about deadly heatwaves, drought, fires, floods & landslides❓ "BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell & TotalEnergies will collectively earn $45 billion in net income during April-June 2026, up from $23 billion in the previous quarter"
Big Oil fuelling global heatwaves while ‘making a killing’: Oxfam calls for windfall tax to fund adaptation
Oxfam warns that soaring profits at BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies are fuelling deadly global heatwaves, with emissions linked to a quarter of such events since 2000. It urges a...
downtoearth.org.in
Yung En Chee@yungenchee.bsky.social · 5d agoFri 31 Jul While Spain, France, Italy, Greece, UK, US & Canada BURN & Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, China, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, & Nigeria FLOOD Woodside Energy reaps $6 Billion fr last quarter thanks to war & fossil fuel-enabling govts like @albomp.bsky.social's
Kiwis showing up we Aussies, again. I've heard far too many times Australian officials saying it can't be done/it's all too hard.
Andrew Digby@digs.bsky.social · 6d agoWith highly-pathogenic avian influenza now in NZ, we're taking steps to protect #kakapo and #takahe by vaccinating against the disease, following a successful trial. We're aiming for ~90 kākāpō and 100 takahē in an initial phase to protect the most valuable birds/sites. #conservation #birds
With highly-pathogenic avian influenza now in NZ, we're taking steps to protect #kakapo and #takahe by vaccinating against the disease, following a successful trial. We're aiming for ~90 kākāpō and 100 takahē in an initial phase to protect the most valuable birds/sites. #conservation #birds
So, is _now_ a good time for us to see all the wildlife risk assessments and response plans? Asking for lots of ecologists and other experts. First Australian mass mortality event suspected as deadly bird flu virus rapidly escalates among native birds www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
First Australian mass mortality event suspected as deadly bird flu virus rapidly escalates among native birds
Helicopter surveillance finds dead and dying greater crested terns off South Australian coast as H5 virus spreads
theguardian.com
Professor Euan Ritchie FAMS@euanritchie.bsky.social · 6d agoH5N1 (bird flu) is now spreading through resident Australian wildlife. Why have the full details of federal, state, and territory risk assessments and response plans _still_ not been released to the public? Are the plans adequate? Full statement - australianmammals.org.au/files/1608_b...
"After years cleaning up after Joyce’s missteps, outbursts and scandals, Liberals and Nationals are revelling in the spectacle of him performing the “janitor” role at One Nation. Joyce, they joke, looks “sane” compared to his new colleagues." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Is One Nation big enough for Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson? Rumours of internal ructions abound
Some National MPs even believe former deputy PM could return, as Hanson’s leadership succession plan does not include the New England MP
theguardian.com
