Sick red knots – a migratory shorebird species of international significance – have been discovered in the Firth of Thames in recent days, leading to a DOC and stakeholder organisation response.
Mailee Stanbury, a Senior Biodiversity Ranger, says although initial indications were the sick and dying birds had succumbed to botulism, it was now thought an algal bloom in the Firth was the cause.
It appeared the birds had ingested some sort of toxin.
“We’ve arranged for several birds and samples to be sent to the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine for testing,” she says.
“Although avian botulism and algal bloom poisoning can present similar symptoms in the birds, what we’re seeing in these birds suggests it’s the latter. We hope to have a clearer indication of the cause next week when post-mortem results are available.”
Members of the public who encounter ill or dead birds on the shores of the Firth are urged to:
- call
