By Tim Howard
First it was the rainbow lorikeets. Now, it’s magpies.
Wildlife experts are warning that the mysterious paralysis syndrome that has long afflicted lorikeets across northern NSW and southeast Queensland could have a troubling parallel in Australia’s most recognisable songbird.
A recent Sydney Morning Herald report revealed that magpies in suburbs of Perth and south West Australia are being found unable to fly, their legs and wings paralysed, and their trademark warble silenced.
Veterinarians and wildlife carers say the symptoms resemble those of lorikeet paralysis syndrome (LPS) — a condition still baffling researchers after several years of study.
University of Sydney wildlife pathologist Professor David Phalen, who leads the LPS investigation, said the magpie cases suggest a broader environmental problem.
“These paralyses could be a canary in the coal mine,” he said. “Something in our landscape may be affecting multiple bird species — and we don’t yet know what it is.”
The pattern is eerily familiar. In late 2023 and 2024, northern NSW wildlife carers, including WIRES volunteers in the Clarence Valley, were inundated with paralysed lorikeets.
A pop-up triage centre at Livable in Grafton took in hundreds of sick birds, many unable to perch, swallow or fly.
At the time, Professor Phalen said the most likely cause was an ingested toxin, possibly from decomposing fruit or a toxic plant that blooms during the warmer months.
The same seasonal link may now be appearing in magpies, with reports clustering in spring and early summer.
Researchers have not ruled out a connection between the two syndromes. Both seem to coincide with fruiting and flowering cycles, and both appear in specific coastal regions while sparing others.
“The distribution suggests there’s a particular environmental factor at work — possibly a toxin that’s more common in some habitats than others,” Prof Phalen said.
Wildlife groups are urging the public to help by reporting sightings of affected birds and cleaning up potential food sources.
Collect fallen fruit and dispose of it in a covered bin.
Cover compost piles to stop birds accessing them.
Report observations through citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist or the University of Sydney’s lorikeet project page.
Meanwhile, as magpie swooping season reaches its peak across the Northern Rivers, experts say the paralysis cases are a reminder that even our most familiar native birds are under environmental stress.
“Magpies are hardy, intelligent birds,” said a WIRES spokesperson. “If something in their ecosystem is making them sick, that’s a warning sign we should take seriously.”
For now, the cause remains unknown — but the pattern is unmistakable. From lorikeets to magpies, Australia’s skies are sending a message that scientists are racing to decode.
If you find a sick or paralysed bird, contact WIRES on 1300 094 737 or a local wildlife rescue service.
