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Story summary
- Australia’s wildlife authorities say the H5N1 bird-flu virus, which arrived in June, threatens about 30 % of bird species, with five at extreme risk of extinction.
- Petrels and crested terns are the main mainland casualties so far.
- Overseas the virus killed millions of black-headed gulls and halved U.S. coastal peregrine falcon numbers.
- Loss of insect-eating birds could let stressed eucalypts die and reduce seed spread by cassowaries, pigeons and doves.
