Gympie man fined after being caught with 28 protected birds

A Gympie man has been fined thousands of dollars after a tip-off led wildlife officers to his home and the biggest haul of native birds some had ever seen. See the photos:

A Gympie man has been fined thousands of dollars after a tip-off led wildlife officers to his home and the biggest haul of native birds some had ever seen.

A Gympie man has been slugged with a $2322 fine for keeping 28 protected Australian native birds in his backyard.

A Department of Environment media release said it received reports in November 2023 of a “significant” number of birds being kept at the property.

Investigating wildlife officers found the birds, including rainbow lorikeets, pale-headed rosellas and king parrots, being kept in various cages.

The confiscated birds were immediately released into their natural habitats.

DESI wildlife officer Chris Heckathorn said it was expected the birds would survive.

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The Department of Environment was tipped off about the birds being kept at the man’s property in November 2023.

“It’s quite uncommon for an individual to have caught so many different types of native birds from the wild, in fact this is the largest number that I’ve personally found to have been captured in my 10 years with the department,” Mr Heckathorn said.

“It’s a great outcome to successfully release every bird back into their natural habitat.”

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Investigating wildlife officers found the 28 birds, including rainbow lorikeets, pale-headed rosellas and king parrots, being kept in various cages.

“As wildlife officers we do appreciate the role the public has in being our eyes and ears in detecting and reporting illegal activity, and it really is just a matter of time before people doing the wrong thing are found out and reported.”

Illegally taking protected wildlife can carry penalties of up to $154,800 or one year’s jail, under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Anyone that rescues a protected animal but does not possess a licence to rehabilitate it must take it to a vet, conservation officer or licensed wildlife carer within 72 hours.

A Gympie man has been fined $2322 after being caught keeping 28 protected birds at his home.