As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Rare spoonbill the latest victim

A rare bird is the latest casualty in a wave of deaths following an avian botulism outbreak.

 Royal spoonbills A royal spoonbill was found dead at the Mangere wastewater treatment plant last week.

Several birds have been found dead at the site in recent weeks, but it's the first spoonbill to be added to the list, Lyn MacDonald, New Zealand Bird Rescue Charitable Trust manager, says.

She describes the latest find as "really heartbreaking".

"It's just terrible. The spoonbills are quite rare and it looked like we were starting to get a group establishing themselves here."

Auckland Council is aware of the avian botulism, which occurs annually in shallow, warm water and says it is a natural occurrence.

Humans can't catch the disease.

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