September 13th, 2025Hepburn Wildlife Shelter
A recent arrival at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter has highlighted a critical problem that is endangering the survival of raptor populations and, indeed, all carnivorous bird (and mammal) species.
This includes our beloved kookaburras and owls.
A whistling kite was found sitting on a football oval and didn’t fly off when approached. This is unusual behaviour for any wild animal but particularly for a bird a bird of prey that is extremely wary of anything humanoid.
Fortunately, the woman that came across the grounded bird recognised that the kite was looking very unwell, with a fluffed-up appearance and lack of desire to flee. She gently wrapped the bird in her jumper and took it to the vet.
The vet took x-rays and ruled out any physical injuries such as broken bones or attack wounds. It was considered that perhaps the bird was blown from a tree in strong winds, but a healthy adult bird does not fall to the ground like a non-winged mammal unless it is already unwell or injured.
The Hepburn Wildlife Shelter was contacted about the bird and they understood straight away that the most likely cause of the whistling kite’s symptoms was rat bait poisoning.
Rodenticide (rat bait) poisoning is now a serious threat to birds of prey, not just in Australia but all across the world. In some regions, rodenticides have been found in 92 per cent of nocturnal avian hunters and up to 60 per cent for other raptors. The rodents eat the poison and the birds eat the unwell and easily caught rodents. The poison from the rodents is ingested by the bird and it accumulates in their system.
This is a slow and painful death for the bird as toxins reach damaging and lethal levels. Adult birds also feed poisoned rodents to their young, unknowingly killing them as they are trying to keep them healthy and well fed. Some birds, such as the much-loved tawny frogmouth, who do not normally prey on rodents, pick up unwell mice and rats easily.
This is a very distressing problem for our wildlife carers. For a bird to be able to recover from poisoning, it will require the careful administration of vitamin K, hand feeds and a warm, safe environment, and specialised facilities to recover their survival fitness.
Unfortunately, when the bird finally regains its health and is released back into the wild, there is a very high chance that it will be poisoned again. Over 70 per cent of birds do not survive rodenticide poisoning.
Deakin University is currently conducting research into the impact of rodenticide poisons on birds of prey across Victoria. They have found that magnificent animals such as the powerful owls and wedgetailed eagles are dying from these poisons or being weakened to such an extent that they are vulnerable to other threats. The university is asking for people to collect any dead bird of prey they find and to pop it in the freezer until it can be transported to the university for testing.
Anyone who finds a dead bird of prey can drop it off at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter, or a vet, and it will be sent on to the university researchers.
For more information on this go to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter Facebook page and please consider your options when looking to eradicate rodents.
Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita writes monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org
Gayle Chappell is co-founder of the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter, along with Jon Rowdon.
