An increase of dead rainbow lorikeets along the South Coast has animal advocates concerned, with early tests revealing a widespread bacteria could be the cause.
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NSW South Coast Wildlife Rescue bird coordinator Jenny Packwood said birds have been dropping from trees in the area.
"One day we had a report of somebody in a Nowra car park finding 14 lorikeets," she said.
"They had obviously fallen from trees. Over the last month, we've had about 40 in total be brought in by our members."
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WIRES sent deceased lorikeets off to the University of Sydney Avian, Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital for testing, and early results showed E.coli bacterium in three out of four bodies.
WIRES Mid-South Coast chair and joint avian coordinator Janelle Renes said dead lorikeets were reported across the region in Nowra, Ulladulla, Long Beach, Batemans Bay and Moruya.
"We're not sure yet whether the bacteria is in something the birds are eating or drinking, but the saddest part is, because rainbow lorikeets are such social birds, they're passing it on to each other very quickly," Ms Renes said.
"The sick birds we're treating are not able to hold any drink, when we try to rehydrate them it's just coming out of their noses, and they're dying within hours.
"A healthy lorikeet is about 140 grams, but these sick ones are coming to us under 100 grams which is very sad to see."
WIRES is working closely with the Sydney University team who said a combination of strong antibiotics could help treat sick birds, but in the meantime the public should help make sure the bacteria doesn't spread.
"We're asking people not to feed birds as it can spread disease," Ms Renes said.
"Anyone who has a bird bath in their garden, please clean them every single day with bleach and a good scrub so we can make sure we stop the bacteria spreading."
More tests on the birds' tissues will be conducted to find out if there were any other causes of death, with results expected in the coming weeks.
"Professor David Phalen and his team have done a fantastic job testing and we're keen to get facts out to people about what they can do to help," Ms Renes said.
The bacteria does not appear to have spread to other bird species but the public should report other sick or dead birds to the NSW South Coast Wildlife Rescue on 0418 427 214.
President of the Shoalhaven Avicultural Society Ray Faulds, who owns lorikeets, advises people to get pet lorikeets DNA tested.
"If you're buying a lorikeet from a backyard breeder, then you should have it tested. To test them, go to DNA Solutions in Sydney," he said.
"Most people with lorikeets have them tested, but some people bring the ones that fall from trees in to save it. But you don't want them in the yard in case it has a disease."
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