Victoria’s wildlife watchdog is investigating the deaths of more than 100 long-billed crows found near the Murray River.
The birds were spotted by wildlife caretaker Kirsty Ramadan, who was called to Barmah, near the border between Victoria and New South Wales, in the center of Yorta Yorta, to catch a beaked whale on Wednesday. long ill. He found 105 long-billed crows, all dead or dying.
The initial report, Ramadan said in a post on the Bohollow Wildlife Shelter Facebook page, also said there were five dead birds nearby, one of which had been seen falling dead from a tree.
He found 10 birds in the grounds of the center.
“I quickly realized that the number of birds involved was huge when I started to see dead birds scattered all over the surrounding streets and forests,” he said.
We are investigating the deaths of more than 100 little crows in Barmah last Wednesday.
We are working to determine whether the deaths were caused by disease or as a result of human actions.
If you know anything about this case, call @CrimeStopperVic at 1800 333 000. pic.twitter.com/Evlw1fwJgj
– Conservation Regulator Vic (@ConservationReg) June 6, 2022
Some birds were found alive but died within hours. Ramadan took some birds to the Echuca Veterinary Clinic, where an autopsy revealed severe bowel and gum bleeding.
Ramadan said it suspects the birds had eaten poison, but it is unclear if they were the intended targets.
“These birds fall dead from the trees, into the air and fall into the Murray River and puddles due to excessive thirst which is, again, a symptom of poisoning,” he said.
“There are many more dead birds that I have not yet been able to recover and also those that are suffering. If you see any birds in the area, such as Barmah, Nathalia or Numurkah, please contact us. Any dead birds you find in the too many, five or more, take pictures and send them to us.
Victoria’s conservation regulator said it was investigating the deaths and “working to determine whether the deaths were caused by disease or as a result of human actions.”
Under the Victorian Wildlife Act of 1975, deliberate poisoning of wildlife carries penalties of up to $ 18,174 or six months in prison.
Birds can also be attracted by the poisoned grain put to kill rodents.
There are three species of corella in Australia, the most widespread being the small corella. Long-billed crows are only found in south-eastern Australia.
In 2019, sixty corellas fell from the sky in Adelaide after an alleged poisoning event.
Some local governments in Western Australia also remove small potholes, which are considered a pest. The city of Rockingham, in the southern strip of Perth, has deployed trash cans with specially designed wheels that are said to have helped capture and euthanize more than 1,000 birds.
The Victorian regulator asked anyone with information about dead parrots along the Murray River to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.