Mystery as 30 magpies 'poisoned' in quiet Aussie neighbourhood: 'He watched them die'
An elderly man was reportedly 'heartbroken' over the deadly scene in his backyard.
There are concerns dozens of magpies could have been intentionally harmed after they were found dead and dying in people’s yards. And rescuers will soon be faced with the problem of where to safely release those that have managed to survive.
The birds had befriended residents living along a sleepy street in Cootamundra, north of Gundagai in NSW. The three streets where they were found exhibiting strange behaviour is at the edge of town which borders farmland.
WIRES rescuer Hana witnessed the carnage firsthand last week. “They were in people’s front yards, I went between neighbours and picked up six,” she told Yahoo News.
“An elderly man told me they were like his family. And he watched four of them die in his backyard. He was absolutely heartbroken.”
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Expert shares theory after magpies display odd symptoms
Cooper St Veterinary Hospital first became aware of the problem on Thursday evening, and by close of business on Friday, they’d accepted 28, with two more coming in over the weekend.
The practice manager Karlie Johnston said the results of tests would confirm what affected the birds. “It looks like it's a poison of some sort, but as to what kind we wouldn't have a clue,” she told Yahoo.
The birds were displaying neurological symptoms. All were unsteady on their feet, some were not able to stand up, and others were falling over.
Johnston said they’ve never seen magpies impacted in such numbers before. But the clinic has treated large numbers of corellas, galahs and cockatoos that ate grain tainted with rat bait.
“I don't think many of them survived, so at least with these we've got better numbers so far,” she said.
Bird carers need safe location to release magpies
While the survival rates are welcome, they create another problem. Once the birds are ready to be released, their carers will need to be confident that poisoning does not remain a threat.
“They’re territorial birds, so they’re supposed to go back to where they came from. But if we’re told it’s not safe, then we’ve got 20-odd magpies that don’t have a home,” Johnston said.
“But that’s a problem for later.”
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