Outrage after spike in bird deaths
Commuters have shared their anger online about the deaths of magpie geese on Douglas Shire thoroughfares, including reports of a driver hitting and killing a magpie goose on purpose along Ferrero Road near Craiglie.
The latest incident sparked a wave of concern, with many residents worried about the growing frequency of bird deaths on our roads.
Several people have claimed birds are being deliberately targeted by some reckless drivers.
“It’s alive with a broken wing and blood everywhere and I’ve called a carer who is going to come now,” one distraught Facebook poster wrote of a bird involved in an incident last week.
And reports of a similar event were also posted online the previous week, alerting people of “four tiny dead magpie goose ducklings” near the same road as the other magpie-goose death.
The latest post has gained significant online traction, with a number of shocked locals urging others to drive with more caution to protect the local wildlife.
Another commented that the goose was with young babies, which were unharmed, but the injured bird had no hope of survival despite being assessed by a carer.
Many commenters raised their concerns about how often they see the birds get hit, some claiming that “people drive way too fast” and another commenting “people do it on purpose”.
Magpie geese are a common sight along our region’s roads, with signs warning drivers of the birds’ presence in the area.
One Newsport reader said this week she believed the signs along Port Douglas Road were not clear enough, and instead of general warnings to look out for wildlife, a sign such as “beware magpie geese crossing” may be more appropriate.
Magpie geese can live to more than 30 years old in the wild, and many mate with one partner for life.
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