![\"Julius](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7cd84b0c5d2b0bdf18ae4f2811af3dfbe0a2115dd8e549393f91733dffbf8c9c.png\")
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Updated December 29, 2025 \u2014 3:32pm,first published December 29, 2025 \u2014 2:39pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n Kylie Conroy\u2019s Inala backyard is normally full of magpies.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes there can be up to 40 of them back here,\u201d she says, standing next to her Hills Hoist with her hands on her hips, as their chortling song rings across the neighbourhood\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n But earlier this month the birds started dying, seemingly at random.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is where I buried six of them,\u201d Conroy says, pointing at one patch of overturned earth in the garden, then another. \u201cI buried some more over there.\u201d<\/p>\n Since December 14, Conroy has counted 31 birds who died in her yard or were taken to the RSPCA wildlife hospital in Wacol, a 10-minute drive through Brisbane\u2019s outer south-west.<\/p>\n When this masthead visited on Monday, two magpies lay crumpled on the ground as another pair hung nearby, occasionally trying to rouse their mates with song.<\/p>\n Two pink plastic bags sat at the edge of the lawn, the scent of rotting animal wafting on the breeze.<\/p>\n Conroy said the unwell and dead birds had been found in her yard and two of her neighbours\u2019 yards. Other neighbours have not reported issues with the birds at their places.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mum has lived here for 54 years, and we have a beautiful backyard, very wildlife friendly. We\u2019ve had season after season of magpies,\u201d Conroy said.<\/p>\n Since first reporting the dying birds, Conroy said her efforts to get someone to pick up their carcasses and figure out what has killed them had been stymied by bureaucracy.<\/p>\n Brisbane City Council sent someone from the roadkill clean-up unit on Christmas Eve, whom Conroy said she convinced to help bury the birds in the backyard.<\/p>\n Eventually, she called the Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline, which prompted the RSPCA to send an animal rescue vehicle to the house and take seven of the birds.<\/p>\n All of those birds, along with one that Conroy brought to the hospital earlier, were euthanised after their repository issues worsened.<\/p>\n The bodies have been sent to a state biosecurity facility in Coopers Plains for testing.<\/p>\n An RSPCA spokesperson said they were investigating the spate of deaths with other relevant authorities.<\/p>\n The spokesperson urged members of the public not to touch birds they believe are unwell.<\/p>\n They said people should call the EAD Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately if they observe unusual bird deaths or suspect highly pathogenic avian influenza.<\/p>\n Related Article H5N1, the highly contagious strain of bird flu, has spread across much of Asia, Europe, North and South America, Africa and Antarctica, killing hundreds of millions of birds and at least tens of thousands of mammals.<\/p>\n The strain has not yet been detected in mainland Australia, although experts say it is only a matter of time before it reaches our shores.<\/p>\n Queensland\u2019s Department of Primary Industries (DPI), which monitors whether bird flu has entered the country, said it was working with the RSPCA.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said it could investigate the cause of the birds\u2019 deaths once a report was lodged.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Kylie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/feba051fea227c4af6cb8703c57e416afca6437fb50a56bac0e8bc4df769497a.jpeg\")
Kylie Conroy has been moving the unwell birds into her backyard. Julius Dennis<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/18ffbb2e042f2f9b360d86343985c12e8e0f05bebd23b36aa5dc152bdf2bd061.jpeg\")
The plastic bags are full of dead birds.Julius Dennis<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2375c879701372729a0a5906007724ecc23938c6725138903027ea9b4b52928d.jpeg\")
A healthy bird inspects another who is unable to fly.Julius Dennis<\/p>\n![\"Conroy\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/29eef28b1d9199c4a49c989e86c42395e7bc3c3659a67939fabb1d33e06e379c.jpeg\")
Conroy\u2019s yard has become a grave for the neighbourhood\u2019s birds.Julius Dennis<\/p>\n![\"Elephant](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/d90925c06e2f6ac9a81caa9adabc6be5b98a9c85.jpeg\")
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