No answer to bird death mystery

February 01, 2007 06:46pm -

A
MONTH after thousands of birds died around Esperance, in Western
Australia's south, investigating authorities still have not established
a cause.

WA's Department of Environment and
Conservation (DEC) said post-mortem examinations into the cause of the
deaths had been inconclusive.

Up to 4000 nectar-eating birds are estimated to have died in the area between

December 7 and January 2.

The birds, mostly yellow-throated miners, wattle birds, new holland
honeyeaters and silvereyes, plus some seagulls and pigeons, were found
dead near water sources such as sprinklers and water tanks.