79 birds dead at Lake Weeroona as Bendigo rescuers hunt the cause
At least 79 birds have died at Lake Weeroona in Bendigo from an unknown cause.
Volunteers have recovered 79 dead birds from Lake Weeroona near Bendigo since the first reports five days ago. Many of the dead are ibises, but a silver gull and a magpie have also been tested.
The cause remains unknown. Tests came back negative for H5N1 bird flu, but rescuers continue taking precautions.
Wildlife workers are exhausted and working carefully to avoid contact with bodies in the water, which pose biohazard risks. A similar mass death event at Bells Swamp near Bendigo in 2023 killed more than 700 birds and was traced to avian botulism, a bacteria found in lake sediments.
Lake Weeroona's cause has not yet been determined.
- 79
- Birds recovered
- Lake Weeroona, Bendigo
- Location
- 5 days
- Time span
- 700+
- Bells Swamp death toll
Why it mattersMass bird deaths can signal disease risks to wildlife and ecosystems, and finding the cause helps prevent future events.
AustraliaVictoria is monitoring the lake for disease that could affect other bird populations across the Bendigo region.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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