Massive bird deaths continue in Australia
Pastor Dale Morgan
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Massive bird deaths continue in Australia*
February 08, 2007 04:48pm
Article from: AAP
MORE mass bird deaths have been reported in Western Australia but
authorities do not believe they are related to the mystery scourge that
killed thousands of birds in the state's south.
WA's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has been unable to
determine what killed up to 4000 nectar-eating birds in and around
Esperance between December 7 and January 2.
The birds, mostly yellow-throated miners, wattle birds, new holland
honeyeaters and silvereyes, plus some seagulls and pigeons, were found
dead near water sources such as sprinklers and water tanks.
The DEC said bird viruses and bacteriological causes had been ruled out
as the cause of death and toxins were still the most likely culprit.
DEC Nature Protection Branch manager Dave Mell today said the department
had recently received reports of large groups of dead birds - up to as
many as 500 - at Yealering, Kellerberrin, Cunderdin, Kulin and Kukerin,
in the state's wheatbelt.
But Mr Mell said he did not believe the deaths were related to those
around Esperance.
"The recent deaths have coincided with high temperatures of up to 45
degrees Celsius and strong winds, and we believe it's most likely the
deaths can be attributed to the extreme weather conditions," Mr Mell said.
He asked people to contact the DEC immediately if they noticed clusters
of birds dying.
"Unfortunately, if people don't contact DEC until days following the
discoveries, we are unable to collect suitable samples for analysis," he
said.
"If you do notice groups of birds dying on your property, contact your
nearest DEC office and, where possible, we will arrange to collect samples."
The birds reported were mostly ring-necked parrots with numbers ranging
from a few up to 500.
The DEC has also ruled out any connection between the Esperance bird
deaths and the death of about 200 treemartins at a house in Narembeen,
240km east of Perth and 380km from Esperance, in early January.
The DEC believes those birds also died because of "extreme weather".