Mass bird deaths in Australia—experts suspect shocking cause

On Monday, a shocking and heartbreaking sight unfolded across Newcastle, Australia, as hundreds of corellas, small, white cockatoos, began falling from the trees in distress. Many were found disoriented, bleeding, or unable to fly. Some were also discovered lifeless on the ground.
The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) immediately launched an investigation, suspecting mass poisoning as the cause. Witnesses reported seeing birds collapse in parks, shopping centers, and even front yards. The distressing scene forced local veterinarians to euthanize over 60 birds to end their suffering.
Jason Gordon, the EPA’s executive director of regulatory operations, condemned the potential misuse of pesticides, stating, “The misuse of pesticides, whether deliberate or unintentional, is completely unacceptable and carries heavy penalties.”

As the days passed, there was a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy. By Thursday, veterinarians and wildlife carers had managed to nurse more than 100 surviving corellas back to health. While many birds could not be saved, those that pulled through are regaining their strength thanks to the tireless efforts of local vets and volunteers.
The EPA’s investigation is still ongoing, with toxicology tests underway to determine whether pesticides or another form of poisoning was responsible. Experts warn that the results could take weeks, as they also work to rule out other possible causes, such as avian flu.
Dr. Tania Bishop, a veterinarian with the wildlife rescue organization WIRES, described the suffering of the birds as "agonizing." One vet from Hamilton Veterinary Clinic, who had never seen anything like this in his 13 years of practice, recounted how the birds spread their wings and looked up, as if pleading for help.
A growing concern for wildlife

Corellas are often seen as a nuisance by farmers and city dwellers due to their tendency to damage crops and buildings. However, resorting to pesticide poisoning will not eradicate the problem, rather it will affect both the birds as well as the entire ecosystem.
Now that the EPA is closely investigating the strange event, authorities are urging anyone with information about possible pesticide misuse to come forward. Until the cause is confirmed, wildlife carers remain on high alert, bracing for the possibility that more birds could still be affected in the coming days.