‘Insecticide killed birds’

AN insecticide is believed to have killed almost 200 native birds in northeast Victoria.

Dead wedge-tailed eagles found near Violet Town in August, led the state’s environment department to find more, along with hawks and falcons, on a nearby property. They have since found up to 200 dead native birds, including 25 wedge-tailed eagles.

Tests of six eagles have detected an insecticide used to control mites. The same chemical has been found in animals suspected of being used as bait. But they aren’t sure whether the poisoning was an accident.