First survey of Heard Island in 20 years to take place this coming austral summer

A Black-browed Albatross feeds its chick on Heard Island, photograph by Roger Kirkwood

During the 2025/26 austral summer, the Australian Antarctic Program will undertake two voyages to Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) using Australia's icebreaker, RSV Nuyina equipped with two helicopters and temporary field huts.  It will be first research visit to Heard Island in more than 20 years.  Surveys of breeding seabirds will include the ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris and Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus.

“High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has not yet reached Australia, Australian Antarctic Territory nor - to anyone's knowledge - either of Australia’s two sub-Antarctic island groups, Macquarie Island or HIMI.  However, affected animals have been found on the French Kerguelen and Crozet sub-Antarctic islands, which are only 450 km from HIMI.  Wildlife ecologist Dr Julie McInnes and her team are heading to Heard Island to survey seabird populations, map breeding colonies, and monitor signs of bird flu, working in collaboration with the seal survey team.”

Strict protocols will be in place to safeguard the environment, and all activities will be implemented in accordance with environmental permits.

Read more about the Heard Island 2025/26 survey here.

 John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 20 August 2025