Birds fall from sky in mass death event in Melbourne suburb

A wildlife crisis has unfolded in one major city where more than 200 birds were found dead in a suspected poisoning incident.

More than 200 birds, including native corellas, were found dead outside a shopping centre in Melbourne’s south over the weekend in what wildlife rescuers are calling a mass poisoning event.

“Had a traumatic day rescuing birds that had been poisoned,” Michelle Phillips from South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter said.

Witnesses described a confronting and distressing scene, with birds falling to the ground outside Springvale South shopping centre and a nearby school playground.

“They literally fell from the sky,” Ms Phillips said.

“Birds were dead or injured on people’s houses, nearby parks, under cars.”

Witnesses said more than 200 birds ‘fell from the sky’. Picture: South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter.

It’s believed the birds ate poisoned feed. Picture: South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter

It’s believed the birds – mostly corellas and some pigeons – consumed poisoned feed on Friday, with the deaths continuing over the weekend.

By Monday, the clean-up was still ongoing.

“There were over 200 dead, eight alive now at Healesville Sanctuary with autopsies happening,” Ms Phillips said.

“This is one reason that people should not feed wild birds, there is plenty natural food around.”

Eight surviving birds are being treated at Healesville Sanctuary. Picture: South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter.

The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the Animal Justice Party and calls for urgent legislative reform.

“This is yet another example of sickening animal cruelty that continues to happen in Victoria,” Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said.

“I am disturbed to think that someone may have deliberately caused these doomsday-like scenes in suburban Melbourne where birds are literally falling from the sky.

“I hope that authorities throw every resource at finding those responsible for this heinous crime.

“The Allan Labor government must honour their commitment to modernise our state’s archaic wildlife protection laws to deter this abhorrent behaviour and ensure serious penalties can be applied when perpetrators are caught.”

Corellas are native to Australia and protected under Victorian wildlife laws.

Originally published as Birds fall from sky in mass death event in Melbourne suburb