One of the corellas released back into the wild at Newcastle. Photo: NSW EPA
Eighty corellas that survived suspected poisoning have been released back into the Newcastle suburb where many of them were discovered.
The rehabilitated birds were recently released by carers at Hunter Wildlife Rescue, who nursed them back to health.
The birds were banded for identification purposes, which is standard practice, the NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) says.
VIDEO: click here to watch the birds take flight again
The agency’s NSW Executive Director, Jason Gordon, says the release is uplifting news for the community and the carers even as their own investigation continues.
“It is heartwarming to see these beautiful birds back where they belong and in good health,” Gordon said.
“Releasing the birds back into the Carrington trees where they are familiar and comfortable is a huge win for everyone involved but this is not case closed for the EPA.
“We are continuing to explore all lines of enquiry to determine the cause of this incident and would like to implore the public to reach out if they have any information that could assist us.”
Gordon says the birds were well looked after by carers and that it has “been inspiring” to see the dedication of local veterinarians and volunteers in caring for them.
“We are really pleased to witness the birds’ recovery and remain focused on trying to gather information to find out how this mass poisoning happened,” Gordon says.
On March 17, the agency received reports of sick and deceased corellas across Newcastle; the death toll surpassed 200 birds over the following days.
Initial testing ruled out avian influenza (bird flu) and Newcastle disease virus but the testing process for chemicals is complex and may take several weeks to complete.
Anyone with information about the suspected mass poisoning or pesticide misuse can contact the EPA’s Environment Line at 131 555.
Public assistance could be critical to their ongoing investigation, the EPA says.
