NSW: Embattled bus company fends off bird kill claims

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
NSW: Embattled bus company fends off bird kill claims

Sydney's State Transit has been accused of killing hundreds of native birds in a botched
pest control exercise that also could threaten a rare owl.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reports a poison expert was engaged to destroy a colony
of Indian mynah birds at the Ryde bus depot .. but kookaburras .. galahs .. magpies ..

and rosellas are among the native birds littering the buildings' gutters.

Experts from the Department of Environment and Climate Change are investigating the
bird deaths .. and say a wildlife reserve .. just 50 metres from the depot .. contains
the rare and endangered powerful owl.

A local wildlife expert believes if the other birds have been poisoned .. the predatory
owl will take their bodies and also be threatened.

State Transit has told the newspaper it's unlikely its pest culling operations are
responsible for the native bird deaths.

The latest problem to beset State Transit follows this week's massive recall that saw
hundreds of its buses left on the tarmac because of a possible steering fault.

AAP RTV dr/psm/

KEYWORD: BIRDS (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.