The Northern Rivers Times
February 22, 2024!!!
10 NEWS
Thousands of rainbow lorikeets lost to disease; cause remains a mystery By Sarah Waters
recover with significant
aetiology to a toxic plant.
Observations of the
intensive care and
But Dr Talbot said
birds feeding in this
They’re known as the
rehabilitation, but it is a
it was still not well
area can be reported
acrobats of the sky, but
lengthy process.
understood.
on iNaturalist (www.
Australia’s beloved
Dr Talbot said vets
“We don’t know if it’s
inaturalist.org).
rainbow lorikeets are
at Byron Bay Wildlife
the plant itself or if it’s
In the meantime, if you
falling in record numbers
Hospital use a 1-4
something on the plant
find a paralysed bird use
across the Northern
grading system to assess
like a fungus or bacteria.
a towel to pick it up and
Rivers region.
paralysed lorikeets.
“There’s lots of
place it in a cardboard
The birds are being
Birds graded 1 are
hypothesis about what
box.
affected by Lorikeet
unable to stand, swallow
it could be, including
Dr Talbot said it is
Paralysis Syndrome
or blink, whereas grade
flowering/fruiting plants
important not to try and
(LPS) a seasonal disease,
4 only show very mild
as it is a seasonal disease,
which occurs between
signs.
but they’re still trying to
October and June and
A lot of the birds require
narrow it down.”
peaks during summer.
intensive care and are
Byron Bay Wildlife
Thousands of cases
placed in a humidicrib,
Hospital have been
have been recorded in
given anti-inflammatory
working with the
medication, fluids, eye
Australian Registry
drops and tube fed.
of Wildlife Health
“Some birds take up to
to help with further
northern NSW in the past two weeks alone. The cause of the disease
Be Wildlife Aware: Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome is at its peak and is affecting thousands of wild rainbow lorikeets across the Northern Rivers. Paralysed birds need immediate veterinarian attention.
feed the birds as they might not be able to swallow. Instead, water can be left in a shallow dish near it. Birds should be taken straight to Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital or call a
is still unknown.
with paralysed rainbow
usually such an energetic,
eight weeks or more to
investigations.
It only affects lorikeets,
lorikeets.
happy bird,” she said.
recover,” Dr Talbot said.
Sydney University are
mainly wild rainbow
“I still need to calculate
The birds can have
“And, we have to rely
also running the Lorikeet
lorikeets but also
how many we have
various degrees of
on a wildlife carer to
Paralysis Syndrome
scaly-breasted lorikeets,
treated, but this year is
paralysis in their wings
take them home for
Project.
and legs.
the later stages of their
It’s citizen scientist
Hospital visit:
the worst it’s been,” Dr
They lose their high-
rehabilitation before they
research project
byronbaywildlifehospital.
Talbot said.
pitched screech and are
can be released back into
encourages members of
org
“It’s bad because we
found either hopping,
the wild.”
the public to photograph
Information on the
don’t know what is
wobbling or not moving
Scientists and vets are
and film lorikeets
Lorikeet Paralysis
causing it yet, so we can
now scrambling to find
feeding on plant species/
Syndrome Project can
the growing number of
only treat their symptoms.
at all.
the cause of Lorikeet
food sources to try and
be found at: www.
afflicted birds.
“Some of them are so
Most birds with LPS are
Paralysis Syndrome.
determine a common
sydney.edu.au/science/
Byron Bay Wildlife
sad when they come in
dehydrated and skinny
A University of Sydney
culprit.
our-research/research-
Hospital Vet Dr Bree
- they can’t stand, some
and need immediate care
study has ruled out
The study area is
areas/veterinary-science/
Talbot said their clinic
of them can’t swallow or
to prevent them suffering.
infectious diseases and
between Bundaberg and
lorikeet-paralysis-
had been inundated
even blink and they’re
Lorikeets can fully
narrowed down the
Grafton.
syndrome-project.html
in south-east Queensland and northern NSW. It has been around since the 1970s but has become more widely recognised in recent years due to
local wildlife organisation to pick them up. For more information on Byron Bay Wildlife
LOOK OUT FOR FIRE ANTS IN NSW
Report ants 1800 680 244 | www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants
LP1801
Remain vigilant, and report any sightings Ensure fire ant carrier materials are compliant with the Emergency Order Do not disturb or treat nests yourself you risk injury and spreading the ants
