There's grave fears for a major city's little penguin population as a disease spreads. (Tracey Nearmy/AAP PHOTOS)There's grave fears for a major city's little penguin population as a disease spreads. Ecologist Lana Austin, from conservation group Earthcare St Kilda, said bird flu was likely going to arrive at a little penguin colony in Melbourne's bayside area, which consists of about 1400 of the birds. While no cases of bird flu have yet been detected in the Australian poultry industry, losses worldwide have been estimated at 140 million birds. "If you have a dog that has been in close contact with a sick bird, I would quarantine your dog," she said.