Mysterious Peacock Deaths: Revealing the Environmental Clue

It’s like a real-life game of Clue where Mrs. Peacock ended up as the victim instead of the perpetrator, with the environmental watchdog revealing that six peacocks from a wild population on the Central Coast died last month from ingesting pesticide pellets. This unfortunate incident may have been a case of deliberate poisoning.

Ourimbah, a semi-rural township north of Gosford, is home to a population of several dozen peacocks that roam freely, eliciting mixed feelings from the local residents. The NSW Environment Protection Authority recently announced that toxicology testing confirmed the presence of two chemicals, including one commonly used in rat and mouse baits.

The results indicated that the peacocks had consumed bait-like seeds containing brodifacoum and sulfotep, chemicals commonly found in insecticides. According to EPA executive director Jason Gordon, the misuse of pesticides is a serious offense with significant penalties due to the lethal impact these chemicals can have on wildlife and the surrounding environment.

In light of this incident, Jacob Bullock from Feathers & Fur Small Animal Rescue and Bird Sanctuary in Cessnock emphasized the importance of using bait stations to prevent wildlife or pet poisoning. He also stressed the need to read product labels to avoid substances that could lead to secondary poisoning of birds of prey, such as owls.

Regardless of whether the poisoning was intentional or accidental, the repercussions extend beyond the peacock population. Local wildlife, like the brushtail possums, could also be at risk. Kerri Taylor, a member of the Ourimbah/Lisarow Peacocks Facebook group, highlighted the joy of observing the peacock mothers and babies and the impact of their presence on the community.

While most Ourimbah residents have a soft spot for the peacocks, others find them bothersome due to their noisy tendencies and habit of perching on cars. State MP David Mehan acknowledged that the increased traffic in Ourimbah may have exacerbated tensions between the peacocks and certain individuals, potentially leading to deliberate harm.

Whether intentional or accidental, the implications of this poisoning incident underscore the importance of responsible pesticide use and the need to protect both wildlife and domestic animals from harmful substances. If you have any information related to this case, please contact the EPA at 131 555.