Hi everyone,

While it was a slow start to the LPS season in October/November, it is unfortunately ending with a roar. The last month has seen an ongoing outbreak of LPS of unprecedented distribution and numbers of impacted lorikeets, particularly in Grafton, New South Wales and south-east Queensland. It is devastating to see the magnitude of lorikeets affected, and we are grateful to the efforts made by wildlife veterinarians, vet nurses, and wildlife rehabilitators to rehabilitate and release these birds.

If you haven't seen, please find below a number of recent articles on the LPS outbreak:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-01/lorikeet-paralysis-syndrome-affecting-hundreds-birds-in-grafton/103407968

https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/thousands-of-rainbow-lorikeets-are-unable-to-fly-and-vets-don-t-know-why-20240208-p5f3ch.html

We would like to remind our members that if you find a sick or injured lorikeet, please ring your local wildlife rescue group or safely transport the bird to your local veterinarian. In response to the LPS outbreak, WIRES has established an Emergency Lorikeet Drop-Off and Triage Centre in Grafton. Please see the link below for more information:

https://www.wires.org.au/media-releases/wires-launches-emergency-response-to-assist-massive-numbers-of-lps-affected-rainbow-lorikeets#:~:text=LPS%20primarily%20affects%20wild%20rainbow,ingestion%20of%20a%20toxic%20plant.

Thanks to this media coverage we have seen a huge increase in members and observations made to the project. I would like to welcome everyone who has joined during the last couple of months! For those who have recently joined and would like to know more about the project and the syndrome itself, please find below some useful links:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/our-research/research-areas/veterinary-science/lorikeet-paralysis-syndrome-project.html

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/avj.13107

https://wildlifehealthaustralia.com.au/Portals/0/ResourceCentre/FactSheets/Avian/Lorikeet_Paralysis_Syndrome.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg0F486rjWU

Thank-you for your interest in the project and we look forward to seeing your observations. We have reached 193 members and 420 observations!

Stay safe and happy Rainbow lorikeet spotting!

Lauren, David, Maya, Holly