“My mum has lived here for 54 years, and we have a beautiful backyard, very wildlife friendly. We’ve had season after season of magpies,” Conroy said.
Since first reporting the dying birds, Conroy said her efforts to get someone to pick up their carcasses and figure out what has killed them had been stymied by bureaucracy.
A healthy bird inspects another who is unable to fly.Credit: Julius Dennis
Brisbane City Council sent someone from the roadkill clean-up unit on Christmas Eve, whom Conroy said she convinced to help bury the birds in the backyard.
Eventually, she called the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, which prompted the RSPCA to send an animal rescue vehicle to the house and take seven of the birds.
All of those birds, along with one that Conroy brought to the hospital earlier, were euthanised after their repository issues worsened.
The bodies have been sent to a state biosecurity facility in Coopers Plains for testing.
Conroy’s yard has become a grave for the neighbourhood’s birds.Credit: Julius Dennis
An RSPCA spokesperson said they were investigating the spate of deaths with other relevant authorities.
The spokesperson urged members of the public not to touch birds they believe are unwell.
They said people should call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately if they observe unusual bird deaths or suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza.
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H5N1, the highly contagious strain of bird flu, has spread across much of Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Antarctica, killing hundreds of millions of birds and at least tens of thousands of mammals.
The strain has not yet been detected in mainland Australia, although experts say it is only a matter of time before it reaches our shores.
Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries said it was working with the RSPCA.
