00:02A species synonymous with South Australia, but not immune to the threat posed by the
00:08H5N1 bird flu. Dr Greg Johnston has spent decades studying pelicans. More recently he's
00:14been following the spread of bird flu and the global impacts on the species.
00:18Internationally pelicans at breeding colonies have been closely monitored. They've lost
00:23around 60-70% of the adult population during the initial phase of influenza coming in.
00:32So that's the sort of thing that we might expect.
00:36While the birds are not endangered, and the species is expected to survive the outbreak,
00:41Dr Johnston says tough times are likely coming.
00:43We're probably in for a fairly torrid two or three years and then things should settle down.
00:49The birds hold significance to the Naranjiri people.
00:52The Naranjiri is a very special bird. The pelican is a big part of our stories. Some people
01:00have the Naranjiri as their totem, and so when the Naranjiri is sick, so are they. It is a
01:07mental anguish that is put on them as well.
01:11And spotting pelicans on the Koorong, made famous by the 1976 film Storm Boy, is a highlight
01:17for tourists.
01:18I think they hold a really special place in most people's hearts because of Colin
01:23Tierley and that beautiful book Storm Boy, which has been made into a couple of feature-length
01:27films over the years.
01:28A ten year review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is due to be handed to the government
01:31by December, and for many it's hoped that Australia's birds are not forgotten as they face the grim
01:36challenge ahead.
01:37Part 2 of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
01:37Part 2 of the Grey-Darling Basin Plan is due to its best-level
Comments