A heartbroken woman is pleading for help after more than 30 magpies mysteriously dropped dead in her suburban front yard. The bizarre spate of sudden deaths began earlier this month when Kylie discovered four of the deceased animals at the property she shares with her mum in Inala, in Brisbane’s southwest.
Confused and concerned, she contacted state and local authorities, including the council and RSPCA, for help, but claims she was told there wasn’t much that could be done given the birds were already dead — the cause of which was reportedly attributed to heatstroke.
However, the problem only got worse, with dozens of magpies continuing to fall sick and expire right in front of her eyes in the following weeks.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia on Monday, Kylie said that she’s now found a total of 33 dead or dying birds in her garden.
“I don’t know what’s going on. One minute they’re healthy, and the next minute they’re just dropping,” she said.
“It’s awful to watch. I held one in my arms last Saturday because I just didn’t want him to die all alone. He suffocated to death in my arms.”
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Initially, the magpies appear to lose the ability to fly, Kylie said, hence why they’re falling out of trees.
“Then they can’t walk, they can’t hold up their heads, their heads are going all floppy, their beaks are open, they’re gasping for oxygen, and then they’re just sort of collapsing and just dying,” the resident detailed.
“Some of them are dying really quickly, and others are taking hours to a day or two to die.”
Heartbreaking video footage shows some of the lethargic birds struggling to breath.
Dozens of magpies drop dead on Aussie property in just weeks
Every day, Kylie awakes to find “more and more” dead magpies not only at her home, but on footpaths and surrounding neighbours’ properties.
“It just keeps escalating,” she told Yahoo. “One just fell out of a tree 10 minutes ago and it’s now on the ground dying under a tree.”
The situation was dire on Sunday, with Kylie, equipped with gloves and a garbage bag, collecting 11 dead magpies first thing in the morning.
Throughout the day, another eight fell to their demise. Some of those were collected by a RSPCA Queensland worker who was called out to inspect the property, which Kylie said is a haven for wildlife.
“We’ve had these magpies coming here every year with their new offspring,” she said.
“This is their home. This is where they live, and whatever this is, it’s decimating our magpie community.”
While some of the birds have already been buried in shallow graves in her backyard, Kylie said she’s still got 16 dead magpies that “no one will pick up and dispose of” for her.
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RSPCA investigating mysterious bird deaths
A spokesperson for RSPCA Queensland confirmed to Yahoo News it had “taken several birds into care following reports of sick and deceased magpies in the Inala area”.
“The cause of this incident is currently under investigation, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities,” they said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Primary Industries confirmed it is working with the RSPCA “to obtain appropriate samples for disease exclusion testing”.
While authorities are yet to pinpoint a reason, the spokesperson urged members of the public who observe “unusual bird deaths”, or those who suspect an animal has Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), to contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately.
Signs to look out for
According to the RSPCA, anyone who spots clusters of five or more sick or dead wild birds of any species should file a report as soon as possible.
Individual cases should still be raised with authorities if they are; seabirds, waterbirds, shorebirds, or birds of prey (e.g., eagles, hawks), or any bird showing signs consistent with avian influenza.
Possible signs of avian influenza include:
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Lack of coordination, tremors, or swimming in circles
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Twisted necks or unusual posture
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Inability to stand or fly
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Diarrhoea
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Difficulty breathing, coughing, or sneezing
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Swelling around the head, neck, or eyes
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Cloudy or discoloured eyes
What should I do if I see a sick or dead bird?
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Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and their environment.
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Ensure pets do not touch or consume affected animals.
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Record what you observe, including the location, and take photos or video if safe to do so.
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REPORT any unusual sickness or multiple wildlife deaths to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 888).
According to the RSPCA, reporting helps authorities assess whether diagnostic testing or further investigation is needed.
“Even if testing does not occur, every report contributes valuable information for disease monitoring and management,” the spokesperson said.
The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) told Yahoo News that it has not received any reports of deceased magpies in Inala, but confirmed it is now aware of the incident.
“We encourage anyone with information to promptly report it to us so that we can determine if an investigation is necessary,” a spokesperson added.
“We remind people to report any issues of wildlife deaths to us on 1300 130 372 or Wildlife.Operations@detsi.qld.gov.au. People are advised not to handle deceased birds due to potential health risks.”
‘Iconic’ sound mysteriously vanishes from suburbs
Meanwhile, a mystery illness has been infecting magpies in Western Australia, with entire “tribes” of the iconic birds vanishing from suburbs.
WA Wildlife became aware of the problem seven years ago, but there’s been a recent surge in cases.
The disease has similarities to botulism and the mystery illnesses that paralyse and kill birds and flying foxes in the eastern states, but experts suspect the Western Australian disease could be caused by a separate pathogen.
A team led by Murdoch University wildlife health expert Dr Bethany Jackson has set out to find the cause.
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