Post-mortem aims to solve Tui sickness mystery
By Tim O?Connell
Rhododendrons or something more sinister? Local wildlife enthusiasts are baffled by a surge of sick Tuis being brought to their attention. Co-ordinator of the Wellington Native Bird Rescue Trust Karen Wiley said that a Maungaraki resident recently alerted her to a Tui in distress near Bushy Way in the Western Hills. Despite the best efforts of the rescue team to save the incapacitated bird, the effects of its ailment proved too much to overcome. ?Its legs were paralysed and it was pretty much unable to move or make noise-unfortunately it didn?t survive.? Two more Tuis? found nearby were brought in soon after, which led Ms Wiley to notice a pattern emerging. ?Once the third one came in, I worked out that they had all been found within a one kilometre radius.? However, a fourth casualty found dead near Ms Wiley?s home in Ngaio added to the mystery, which has now led to drastic measures being taken to determine the catalyst for the Tuis' demise. A post-mortem will be carried out on the fourth Tui at Massey University in an attempt to shed some light on the matter. While hopeful of a conclusive result, Ms Wiley realised that pinpointing the problem would not be an easy task. ?It is difficult unless you know what toxins you are looking for in the first place. ?If anything was going to be determined, it would be through assessing the state of their livers and kidney.? While a clear cause of the Tuis? conditions is unknown at this stage, Ms Wiley said the possibility of poisoning is a likely scenario given the circumstances. ?Flowers from rhododendrons can be toxic to some Tui, but at this stage we can?t be sure whether it?s that or not? she said. ?All the birds are displaying the same symptoms, which are often associated with poisoning.? Aside from paralysis to the legs, Ms Wiley said the birds required total support to move and be fed. While two were unable to be saved, the surviving birds have since recovered and have both been released back into their natural environment. In the meantime, those who come across similarly stricken Tui are encouraged to get in contact with the Wellington Native Bird Rescue Trust on (04) 479 2936.
