20-04-2025
Grim photos prompt warning over common backyard act: 'Completely preventable'
Grim photos of multiple magpies with severely broken beaks has triggered a warning to Aussies who have a habit of feeding the birds when they land in their backyard. It's not uncommon to see the animals eating mince or bread from the palm of someone's hand, and while they are not toxic, the food can still be incredibly deadly, according to wildlife experts.
The three separate magpies each suffering from 'painful injuries' were found by Keith Porteous, a Sunshine Coast local otherwise known online as 'The Wildlife Rescuer', late last year. The 'heartbreaking' images went viral this week as Aussies shared their shock over the extreme damage.
'I received calls for from concerned members of the public,' he told Yahoo News. 'As the birds were flight capable, I had to capture them. All the birds were emaciated when I rescued them, showing their injuries were preventing them from feeding adequately.'
When magpies suffer from a broken beak, it is often the result of metabolic bone disease (MBD) and oral infections from a lack of nutrition.
'MBD is caused by a lack of calcium in the bird's diet. The animal's response to the deficiency is to draw calcium from its own bone reserves, leading to soft or brittle bones that are susceptible to deformation and fracture,' Porteous said, adding rescuers 'see quite a number of cases over the year'.
Bread and mince, which can also get stuck in the beak, do not contain the level of nutrients the birds require.
'The animal's response is to fill up on these easily available morsels literally handed to them and not eat the natural diet that contains the calcium and other vital nutrients they require for good health,' Porteous told Yahoo, noting it can also lead to other issues such as obesity.
Birds with irreversible beak damage from MBD are invariably euthanised, he explained. 'This is completely preventable by simply not feeding wildlife and letting them consume their natural healthy diet.'
The myriad of issues do not stop there, as feeding magpies can also cause the birds to gather in unnaturally large numbers, creating competition and spreading disease between flocks, Porteous said.
'This can also cause community issues with many regarding the feeding of wildlife to be creating mess or a health hazard to humans. I have many people asking me how they can stop their neighbour feeding wildlife as it makes their lives difficult.'
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Meanwhile, wildlife researchers across the country in Western Australia are scratching their heads after reports of 'entire families' of magpies being wiped out due to unknown paralysing syndrome. The neurological condition is affecting magpies across Perth and the Southwest region, prompting researchers to collaborate to determine its cause.
Common symptoms in the birds can include weakness and the inability to stand or co-ordinate movements. In severe cases, the birds may be unable to lift their heads or breathe.
Murdoch University is working together with wildlife centres and organisations, including Wildlife Health Australia, to gather information about the affected birds, such as the geographic range, age and species, along with conducting tests to determine a diagnosis.
Dunsborough Wildlife carer Chloe Field told the Busselton Dunsborough Times she had taken in 11 birds into care in the span of 48 hours. 'This summer, they've just started turning up in droves,' she told the outlet, adding a colleague had reported over 100 cases of the syndrome since the start of the year.
Similar symptoms have appeared on magpies in the past, spanning back to 2018, however, the increased amount of birds affected has raised the alarm for researchers. Murdoch University researchers recommend avoiding contact with the sick birds, and contact a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitation centre.
with NCA NewsWire
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