WATERBIRD experts are unsure why so many birds are dying on Lake Neangar.
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Council workers were called out to the Eaglehawk lake yesterday to clean up a collection of dead seagulls on an island in the middle of the lake.
Bendigo resident Donna Pollard reported the incident to the City of Greater Bendigo after she discovered dozens of dead birds on a walk around the area.
Ms Pollard said she was concerned the dead wildlife would contaminate the water.
“The smell was terrible and it just looked so awful,” she said.
Council director of presentation and assets Darren Fuzzard confirmed the council removed a large number of dead seagulls from Lake Neangar yesterday.
He said the council was unaware of what caused the death of the birds.
“Seagulls are wild birds and unfortunately we don’t know why this has occurred,” he said.
“However if any member of the public has any further information about the fate of the birds we would appreciate them making contact with the council.”
He said recent testing had not shown any adverse water quality issues at the lake.
Wildlife Rescue and Information Network (WRIN) waterbird expert Lyn Waller said she could only speculate on why so many birds died yesterday.
“It could be overpopulation,” she said. “It is breeding season so it is a vicious time of year.
“They are all nested on such a small area so they will attack each other. But why exactly they did this yesterday, specifically, we just don’t know.”
Ms Waller urged anyone who finds a sick, injured or orphaned animal to contact WRIN on 0419356133.
