No answers yet on what’s killing birds
BIRDS of prey across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula are continuing to die from suspected second-hand poisoning as city officials scramble for answers.
Since a Geelong Advertiser report last month into the mysterious increase in deaths of owls and other birds of prey, the Advertiser has had numerous calls from concerned locals who have seen or found ill and deceased birds.
One man from Leopold described finding a bird on his property “bleeding from the mouth” while a Clifton Springs woman said she believed the local birds of prey had been “completely vanishing” over a number of years following baiting programs in the local area.
Bellarine Vet Practice and Zoos Victoria veterinary nurse Leila Merritt is currently nursing a boobook owl she has affectionately named Boo back to health after a secondary poisoning.
“Down here on the Bellarine we’ve had about 30 birds — mostly barn owls — pass away from what we are assuming is accidental rat bait poisoning,” she said.
“But I’ve had them coming in from all over — Queenscliff, Ocean Grove and Lara — so it’s not just a problem in Geelong.”
Out of 10 birds that have come to the clinic still alive, only two have made a recovery.
Ms Merritt said she had attended a meeting with the City of Greater Geelong and Parks Victoria last week to discuss the growing crisis.
“Why there had been such an increase, we just won’t know until the autopsy results come back,” she said.
“People can do their part by stopping the use of any type of bait. There are plenty of alternatives at Bunnings.”
The City of Greater Geelong confirmed it had sent a number of birds away for testing and that autopsy results would be made available “in the coming weeks”.