Lake ALIVE! has been calling for a compliance crackdown to protect people and give Albert Park’s birdlife the best chance of making it through when H5N1 arrives.
“Parks Victoria shares your concern about activities that may place wildlife, visitors or pets at risk,” says Adrian Browne, the Parks Victoria Regional Director for Greater Melbourne.
“While most visitors comply with park regulations, we recognise that a small number of people continue to feed wildlife, allow dogs off-lead in designated on-lead areas or fish in prohibited areas,” Browne says.
The rules themselves aren’t changing, but rangers will be keeping a sharper lookout.
“Rangers have been briefed on the risks associated with H5N1 and are placing an increased focus on relevant non-compliance during their routine patrols,” Browne says in his official response on behalf of the Victorian Environment Minister.
“Where offences are observed, Rangers and Authorised Officers will respond in accordance with Parks Victoria’s compliance and enforcement framework.”
Education and awareness are always the first priority, but rangers also have powers to seize items, issue fines or prosecute rule-breakers through the courts.
The wildlife impact
Members of Lake ALIVE! report they often cop abuse when they quietly remind fishers not to dip a line in conservation zones full of ducklings and cygnets, or when dog walkers insist their dog is so well-trained that the rules don’t apply.
These rules exist for good reasons already and bird flu makes the risk even greater.
It isn’t harmless fun to bring a bag of bread to the lake to feed the swans. H5N1 could turn bird feeding into the avian equivalent of an overcrowded cruise-ship buffet, drawing infected and vulnerable birds into a frantic scramble for food.
If your unleashed dog runs ahead and sniffs a dead seagull beside the lake, it could be exposed to infection.
If fishers accidentally entangle a bird’s legs, it could be impossible to get a rescuer or a vet willing to help because of the bird flu risk.
From botulism to bird flu
Avian botulism has killed around 1,400 native birds in Albert Park in the past 18 months, and those birds now face an even deadlier threat from H5N1.
Imagine our landmark lake without its iconic black swans. As the arrival of bird flu now seems inevitable, this bleak future is not impossible. A gene study found that black swans are extremely vulnerable to H5N1.
Lake ALIVE! is grateful that Parks Victoria is stepping up its vigilance. More than 80 native bird species live at the park, and they need our help.
Keeping your dog on a lead, fishing only in permitted areas and refusing to feed the birds are simple steps that can help protect the park wildlife we all enjoy.
That is a small price to pay for the black swans, cygnets and other park wildlife that make Albert Park Lake so special.
Kelly Brennan is part of Albert Park advocacy group Lake ALIVE!, which represents recreational park users and gives a voice to park wildlife.
