Authorities are eagerly awaiting the results of testing carried out on nine dead birds found along WA’s coast, from Esperance to as far north as Geraldton – including one in Perth. The birds are being screened for the deadly H5N1 bird flu following the discovery of two dead birds with the disease near Esperance last week. Dead birds have also been found on a remote South Australian beach, some 1200 kilometres from Esperance. Samples from the two petrels have been taken for separate testing.Nearly 100 reports of sick or dead birds have been reported to WA authorities since a hotline was set up on Friday to try and contain any spread of the deadly bird flu, which can have devastating impacts on wildlife populations. Australia had been the only continent in the world not to have the strain.