Over the past two months, WA Wildlife has taken in more than 400 magpies, and similar bird species, suffering from severe paralysis and near death.

Other wildlife centres across Perth and the Southwest region have also reported a surge in related cases, with the cause still unknown.

The magpies are being brought into a number of wildlife clinics showing symptoms of alertness, but they can barely move or stand and, in severe cases, even breathe.

Dr Meg Rodgers is the manager of hospital and veterinary programs at WA Wildlife. She has extensive experience in the field of wildlife medicine and rehabilitation and has dealt with many of these cases.

“The syndrome typically starts with leg paralysis and can progress to affect the wings, neck and even breathing in the advanced stages,” she says.

“These birds are usually still in reasonable body condition on presentation, and many survive with supportive care, but recovery can take several weeks to months.”

She says the condition is known to worsen during the spring and summer seasons, with this past season being the worst on record.

Kelli Ellemor is a manager at Native Animal Rescue and has been there for 25 years.

She says she first saw WA magpies experiencing these symptoms in 2017, however the number of birds affected has grown exponentially in the last seven years, along with the geographical areas these birds are being found in.

“It’s a lot more potent than it was when it first started. Every year it tends to get more severe for these birds and effecting a few more different species like your little willie wagtails, your mudlarks, but it just seems to change every year and get a little bit stronger,” she says.

Despite the growing number of cases being reported, the exact cause of the condition is still unknown.

“When these birds come in, we can treat them with Epsom salts and other types of medications,” she says.

“The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spared no expense when it first started, there was lots of testing done, tissue, bloods, etc. There hasn’t been anything just recently, but Murdoch are about to commence a study on this.”

In collaboration with Wildlife Health Australia, the Department of Primary Industries, and other wildlife experts, Murdoch University has set out to find the cause of this mysterious condition.

In the past, some birds have been diagnosed with ‘Black and White Bird Neurological Syndrome’, a condition Wildlife Health Australia says originated on Australia’s east coast, affecting black and white bird species and thought to have originated due to a parasite or a virus.

However, experts such as Kelli Ellemor say some parts of this new condition affecting WA magpies don’t fit the typical symptoms of black and white bird disease.

Many locals and community group advocates on Facebook have speculated the use of herbicides and pesticides containing glyphosate are having a toxic effect on these magpies.

Dr Rodgers says while the use of herbicides and pesticides can have a severe impact on bird populations, more research needs to be conducted to determine whether this is the underlying cause of this mysterious disease.

“While environmental toxins are one of the many potential sources being explored, to date there is no confirmed evidence linking herbicides or pesticides to the syndrome. Targeted toxin screening is part of the next phase of the investigation efforts,” she says.

Dr Tania Bishop from WIRES, Australia’s biggest wildlife rescue organisation, says she agrees no conclusions can be made without histopathology to uncover what is happening in the tissues of the birds, as well as toxicity screening for chemicals in the birds’ blood.

“Chemicals have been ruled out as a cause of lorikeet and flying-fox paralysis syndrome, however in the case of the paralysed magpies in WA, we don’t yet have any answers and need to wait for histopathology to tell us what is happening,” she says.

While researchers try to get to the bottom of the causes of this disease, experts are asking the general public to be considerate of what types of chemicals they use in their gardens, and to consider how it may affect the biodiversity and ecosystems around them.

“Long-term pesticide and herbicide use negatively impacts wildlife and the environment by causing direct and indirect effects, including the loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, and contamination of soil and water,” says Dr Bishop.

“There are certain herbicides and pesticides that are more harmful than others, however a chemical that is usually less harmful than another may be given or be available in a far stronger form, making it far more dangerous to native birds and other animals.”

While research persists to find the root of the cause, the iconic Australian magpie remains at the mercy of an invisible threat.