A quiet outing in one suburban area quickly turned tragic after a sudden incident left hundreds of native animals dead or struggling.

What began as an ordinary day near a bustling shopping hub soon became a confronting scene.

Both locals and rescuers were left stunned by the scale of the loss.


Michelle Phillips, founder of the South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter and a veteran wildlife rescuer with over 25 years of experience, described the event as the worst she’s ever witnessed.

'I've done lots of horrible rescues, but this is the worst,' she told reporters, visibly shaken by the carnage.


The bodies of corellas—a type of native cockatoo—were found scattered across gutters, footpaths, and even rooftops. Some birds were still alive but in obvious distress, bleeding from their mouths, eyes, and nostrils.

The grisly symptoms led first responders to suspect the birds had ingested rat poison, a theory that is now under investigation.

Birds are a common sight in the area, often drawn by well-meaning locals who feed them.


However, rescuers noted that several bags of seed and bread had been dumped in the area on Friday and Saturday nights, raising suspicions that the food may have been deliberately laced with poison.

Samples have been collected for testing, but the full story is yet to unfold.

Disturbingly, the initial wave of deaths went unreported, with cleaners simply removing the bodies on Saturday.

It wasn’t until Sunday, when the scale of the tragedy became impossible to ignore, that authorities were alerted.

By then, the streets were littered with dead and dying birds, and the chaos was compounded by cars swerving to avoid them and onlookers stopping to take photos.

'It was gruesome. It was heartbreaking. We try and save these animals, and it seems like some bastard is trying to kill them deliberately,' Michelle said.

The emotional toll on rescuers and the community has been immense, with many expressing anger and disbelief that such an act could occur in their neighbourhood.

The incident also posed a risk to public safety, as birds fell from the sky in front of moving vehicles and onto people’s homes.

Fortunately, the nearby school was closed for holidays, sparing children from witnessing the aftermath.

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated event. Mass poisonings of corellas and other cockatoo species have been reported across Australia, particularly in farming regions of South Australia and suburban New South Wales.

In March, a similar incident in Newcastle saw around 200 corellas die after ingesting Fenitrothion, a common agricultural insecticide.

In Victoria, it is illegal to kill native wildlife without a permit from the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA).

The agency recommends non-lethal methods for managing cockatoo populations, such as scaring and, in some cases, shooting (with a permit). Poisoning is strictly prohibited.

Eight surviving corellas were taken to Healesville Sanctuary for assessment, but the fate of these birds remains unclear.

The Conservation Regulator, part of DEECA, has launched an investigation and is urging anyone who finds clusters of five or more dead birds to avoid touching them and to report the incident immediately by calling 136 186 or using the online reporting system.

Australia’s unique birdlife is a source of joy and pride for many of us, and events like this are a stark reminder of how vulnerable our wildlife can be.

Whether you’re a bird lover, a concerned neighbour, or just someone who enjoys a stroll through your local park, we all have a role to play in protecting our feathered friends.
Have you witnessed something similar in your area? How do you feel about feeding wild birds, and what steps do you think should be taken to prevent tragedies like this? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

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