DURING her neighbourhood walk last Sunday, Stoneville resident Helen Dobbie brought two sick magpies to her local vet where she learnt about the spike in a paralysis disease called black-and-white bird (BWB) disease.

“I felt to help them as I could see they were sick and unlikely to get better if I had left them alone,” Mrs Dobbie said.

She spotted the male magpie first, and then the female magpie which she said had ants crawling on it and was almost lifeless, but had its eyes open and was still breathing.

Chittering Wildlife Carers vice chair Lee Chitty said her friends at Kanyana Wildlife, Native Animal Rescue and Darling Range Wildlife have also reported higher yields of sick birds with the BWB disease in recent months, which mainly impacts magpies.

Ms Chitty said research on the BWB disease is scarce so the cause and the reason for the rise in cases is still undetermined.

She thinks algae, bacterial growth within water and stagnant water could be the cause.

“I believe that because there’s low water sources, water sources dry up, there ends up being more dirty water,” Ms Chitty said.

She said symptoms can include paralysis, clenching of feet, inability to stand, fly, or stay upright.

Sometimes the birds are given boots to assist with physiotherapy which helps with stretching out fisted claws.

“Treatment for it can be really tricky because often when we do get a bird with BWB disease, it’s almost too late,” she said.

“So, it’s gotten to the point where they’re completely paralysed, almost unable to fly, unable to walk and sometimes at the point where they can’t lift their head.”

Ms Chitty said flushing out the bird’s system is the most effective form of treatment.

If the case is not too severe, she said supportive care with vitamins, electrolytes and good food is the best treatment.

Ms Chitty said although the public can’t put out water bowls in public spaces, people can help these birds by adding a fresh water source to their backyard, especially in the summer.