Samples of dead birds sent to Bengaluru lab to ascertain the exact cause

Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has initiated measures to clean the drainage water near Kodava Samaja in Vijayanagar First Stage in the vicinity of Basava Bhavan following the death of four Pond Herons two days back. Following the deaths, residents of the area have demanded the MCC to act. 

Carcasses of four Pond Herons were found near a park in the residential locality and the deaths triggered bird flu scare too. Acting swiftly, the Forest Department team visited the place and sent the samples of the dead birds to a laboratory in Bengaluru to determine the cause of death. It has been suspected that the death of the birds could be due to drinking contaminated water from the open sewers nearby. 

While the residents of the locality and bird lovers opine that  deaths of birds have become common in the area as many birds come to this shady area to feed and perch on trees, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Dr. K.C. Prashanth Kumar said they have collected the samples and sent it to the laboratory for investigation and the reports would come in a week. “There is no need of pressing the panic button as it does not look like bird flu deaths. The birds could have died due to natural causes,” he said.

It’s summer time and birds are desperate to drink water and they would have consumed the stagnant drainage water that could have turned poisonous due to excessive heat, said birders. Savitha Nagabhushan of People For Animals (PFA) also said that polluted water or accumulated chemicals could be the reason for birds death. 

“There is no other water source for birds except the polluted drainage water. Daily 4-5 birds such as Cattle Egrets and Pond Herons are dying. MCC has to get the drainage cleaned and provide a clean water source for birds at all parks. Most of the parks do not have water troughs for birds. The MCC must act in this regard,” she said.