Residents in Mount Tamborine are being urged to stop using blue snail pellets after a number of regent bowerbirds have been found dead.
The pellets are the main suspected cause of death, and several carcasses have now been provided to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital to confirm this.
Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations Manager Frank Mills says male bowerbirds are renowned for being attracted to blue items.
“Unfortunately, we believe the males are decorating their bowers with the blue snail pellets, which contain toxic substances which could be causing the bird deaths,” he says.
“As the males regularly steal from other male’s bowers, there is the possibility that we might see the deaths of more birds.”
A member of the public alerted wildlife officers to the deaths, with an investigation now ongoing to determine if the suspected poisoning is targetted.
“The discovery of these bird deaths has been distressing for people in the Mount Tamborine region and we’re currently investigating if the suspected poisoning is intentional or not,”
“Anyone with information is urged to contact wildlife officers by calling 1300 130 372 (option 5) and we ask people to stop using the snail bait immediately.”
The string of bowerbird deaths is currently limited to the Mount Tamborine region, but wildlife officers wanted to hear from members of the public to determine the range of the deaths.
The bowerbird breeding season runs from August to January, and to attract a mate, the male bowerbirds build a structure called a bower from grass and sticks.
“We are surrounded by wildlife which is wonderful, but we have to realise the impact we can have on them is often detrimental.”
Anyone who notices a large number of deceased bowerbirds, or any bird species, are being urged to report it to the wildlife department on 1300 130 372
