Low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses have co-evolved with wild waterbirds, which include the order Anseriformes (ducks, geese, swans) and Charadriiformes (shorebirds, gulls, terns). These viruses are found in birds globally, including Australia, and cause no clinical disease signs. This is in contrast to high pathogenicity avian influenza, which in the last 2 years has caused >10,000 outbreaks and resulted in the death or destruction of hundreds of millions in poultry, wild birds and mammals. Herein I will discuss the evolutionary ecology of low pathogenicity avian influenza in Australia, and how this may inform our preparation and surveillance approaches for high pathogenicity avian influenza when it should arrive. Furthermore, I will outline the results of ongoing surveillance of arriving migratory birds and results of recent viral incursions into Australia. While highly pathogenic avian influenza is not present in Australia, We will again enter a high risk period for an incursion with the arrival of millions of migratory birds from Asia in the spring, and continued improvements to biosecurity, enhanced surveillance, and other preparation activities should continue to be of high priority.