What an Australian King Parrot should look like. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The deaths of dozens of parrots on the south coast of New South Wales are believed to have been caused by a rapidly spreading disease.
Local WIRES wildlife volunteers were summoned to the Vega Park area across from the showgrounds to try and rescue the remaining sick birds showing signs of a rapidly spreading disease known as spironucleosis.
Dead or dying parrots have also been found in Cobargo.
WIRES veteran Tania Bishop believes the birds are showing signs of a highly contagious organism that has particularly affected King Parrots during this time of food shortage.
It is commonly seen in juvenile birds that gather at feeders and bird bathing areas.
“For this reason, feeding parrots or other birds in the wild is not recommended as flocking around bird feeders can transmit the organisms,” Dr. Bishop said.
She said symptoms of the disease included wasting, weakness, an inability to fly, and a gait often staggering when the bird was on the ground.
WIRES volunteer Marianne Cambridis cares for a sick parrot. Photo: Marianne Cambridis.
WIRES Wildlife Volunteer Marianne Cambridis of Vega, who is currently caring for a sick parrot, believes more people have contracted the disease. There was no way to maintain an accurate count, as they were likely discarded without being removed.
She recently found a dead crow that seemed to be affected by the disease.
Young parrots are more likely to contract the disease, Camboridis said. This is because after being weaned by their mothers, they are forced to forage for food on their own, often going to the simplest source, the feed table.
“It’s possible to save these affected birds if you can get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible,” she said.
“Report birds that appear unwell to WIRES so we can rescue them and increase their chances of survival.”
Cambridis, a WIRES volunteer for more than two years, said the ailing parrot needs a lot of care before it can be released back into the wild.
Recovery with TLC and medication may take up to 8 weeks.
“The ones I take care of are kept warm by putting them on a heating pad at night and outside in a 20 x 20 enclosed orchard during the day. It’s great to see them eating and eating fruit,” she said.
Ms Cambridis said there are three things people can do to stop the spread of spironucleosis.
- Don’t cut too much grass.Leave longer patches to let birds do what they naturally can – feed
- Plant native shrubs around your home, especially eucalyptus
- Don’t leave water for birds – they find their own water
“Unless you’re in a severe drought, you don’t need to put water out for them. These bird baths help spread disease very quickly. “We’ll find water from a place like this,” she said.
Ms. Cambridis also said that volunteering at WIRES was one of the best she’s ever done and encouraged people to volunteer at WIRES.
“People don’t realize that volunteers can do so much with us,” she said. “Even if you just take an animal from a veterinarian, for example, you always need people.
She said anyone who finds an injured parrot and is confident in working with wildlife should wrap the bird in something warm and take it to the vet. and call WIRES on 1300 094 737.
