Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

[wdcare]

Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths.
03/01/2007. ABC News Online

[This is the print version of story

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1820773.htm]

Last Update: Wednesday, January 3, 2007. 10:20am (AEDT)
Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

The Western Australian Department of Environment believes a toxic substance is responsible for the deaths of more than 100 birds of different species in the Esperance area of WA's south-east.

The department's Mike Fitzgerald has confirmed it is investigating the possibility of a chemical spill or industrial activity which may have caused the bird deaths.

He says it could also be a naturally occurring poison.

Residents initially alerted the department to a large number of dead birds around the Demster Head area near the port, but now more dead birds have been found in other areas.

Mr Fitzgerald says birds have been sent to Perth for autopsies.

"There doesn't seem to be any change in the organs which sort of rules out a long-term infection and that leaves the door open to for some sort of toxin that may have been ingested by the birds," he said.



? 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Copyright information: http://abc.net.au/common/copyrigh.htm

[Niko]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

January 13, 2007
Jim Kelly
AAP / The Sunday Times, Australia

ISOLATED WA holiday town Esperance is the focus of world attention since birds began falling from the sky and dying.

Photo: EMPTY NEST: "Normally, there would have a couple of hundred birds in the garden, but now there is nothing,'' Esperance resident Michelle Crisp says.

The baffling phenomenon, which has wiped out about 4000 birds since it was first reported a month ago, has made news around the world.

The story has featured internationally on television and in newspapers.

US health officials in Texas are paying particular attention after experiencing a similar baffling outbreak of bird deaths.

The unexplained deaths sparked a major health scare after initial suspicions of a possible terrorist attack.

In Esperance, 730km southeast of Perth, populations of honeyeaters, wattle birds and miners have been hit.

Bush on the western fringe of the coastal tourist town, which only weeks ago was ringing with a chorus of birds, is now eerily silent.

Department of Environment and Conservation district nature conservation co-ordinator Mike Fitzgerald said scientists were getting closer to explaining why native birds were dying.

Toxic poisoning had emerged as the most likely cause of the deaths, he said.

An autopsy being carried out by Department of Agriculture toxicologists on one of the latest casualties will test for organochlorins, organophosphates and heavy metals.

"We are looking at something that is pretty potent,'' he said.

"This is not a normal situation.

"The common thing that we have seen and heard is that the affected birds have an insatiable thirst.

"In some cases, the birds have fitted and then appeared to be OK and then fitted again and died.

"We are hoping the next tests will at least point us in the right direction.

"At the very least, it is hoped it will eliminate some of the possible causes.

"If it turns out to be a toxin that is responsible, that will raise more questions because there is no obvious source of exposure.

"It really is a puzzle.''

Initially, health authorities feared a virus, possibly similar to deadly bird flu, was responsible.

That was quickly ruled out, along with poisoning from bacteria or eating poisoned insects.

The first deaths were reported by Esperance resident Michelle Crisp, whose property is close to bush in the worst- affected area.

Dozens of native birds began dying in her back yard a week before Christmas.

She began ringing around neighbours and was shocked to find they were experiencing the same thing.

Mrs Crisp found four dead birds, then 16, then 30 and finally up to 80.

The water in her birdbath, which used to be changed three times a day, is now almost stagnant.

"Normally, there would have a couple of hundred birds in the garden, but now there is nothing,'' she said.

"There is just silence. It is devastating.''

In WA, authorities expect to have results of the latest tests in seven days.

Esperance residents, meanwhile, are waiting for answers and for birds to return.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...007222,00.html

[JetStuuby]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

"Initially, health authorities feared a virus, possibly similar to deadly bird flu, was responsible.

That was quickly ruled out, along with poisoning from bacteria or eating poisoned insects."

i haven't followed this thread closely, but how was bird flu ruled out? does anyone know if the general public are able to view the results of tests done?

i'm not saying it hasn't been ruled out by proper methods, but i wonder how transparent the testing is?

[MHSC]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

One of these threads on Esperance may have the answer you are looking for.

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14711&highlight=esperance

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14909&highlight=esperance

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14983&highlight=esperance

[JetStuuby]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

thanks. i checked those threads, but apart from an official statement that "it wasn't bird flu", there is no mention of what testing was done, the specifics of results etc.

[MHSC]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

I don't think the results are back yet. If the symptoms justify bird flu testing it will take 10 days from the time they innoculate chicks before they have results.

[Niko]

Re: Australia: Poison suspected of causing Esperance bird deaths

Bird deaths in another area, but article mentions ongoing testing on Esperance bird deaths. (see bloded text)

Concern growing as 200 more birds die mysteriously

By Tony Barrass
January 18, 2007 02:00am

Article from:


AUTHORITIES in Western Australia are again baffled by the unexplained deaths of more than 200 birds in a small farming community.

It follows the mysterious deaths of an estimated 4000 native birds at Esperance on the state's south coast in a phenomenon that has sparked worldwide scientific attention.


The Department of Environment and Conservation yesterday confirmed that another mysterious bird kill had occurred at Narembeen, 300km southeast of Perth, earlier this month.


Unlike the first incident, the dead birds at the tiny Wheatbelt town - more than 400km west of Esperance - have been identified as treemartins, similar to swallows, which are migratory insect-eaters known to enjoy moderate climates. They can be vulnerable to cold temperatures and wet conditions.
But because the deaths happened two weeks ago and were only reported to environment and agriculture authorities last week, scientists have been unable to carry out any detailed tests on a small number of decomposing remains to establish whether they died of exposure or something more mysterious.

Tests are continuing on the honeyeaters, yellow-throated miners, silvereyes and wattlebirds that were taken from Esperance, 760km southeast of Perth, where locals first started noticing the deaths before Christmas. So far, autopsies have ruled out any bacterial or viral infections as a cause of death. Esperance has a busy port and is a regional centre for agriculture, which some locals suspect may have played a part in the bird kills. The DEC should know by early next week if the deaths were due to pesticides or toxins.


At Narembeen, the swallows turned up at a house in the town's centre between January 3 and January 5. Their appearance coincided with heavy rains that culminated in serious flooding and major stock losses further south. The owner of the house has told authorities that after the rains passed, he swept up the dead birds and took them to the local tip.
When the Department of Agriculture and Food became aware of the incident last week, a ranger collected some remains but they were in a poor condition and could not be properly analysed.


DEC spokesman Paul Connolly said he did not know if the Esperance and Narembeen incidents were linked.


"What we do know is that it was quite cold at Narembeen on the day the birds turned up," he said. "We think it was around about 16C, which is quite cold for a little bird like that."


Curator of ornithology at the WA Museum Ron Johnstone believed the treemartins would have been exhausted and wet by the time they found somewhere to hide from the approaching storm.


"These birds fly all day and eat all day, and if there's no food around because of the storm, then they are in trouble."

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21076317-2,00.html