Killer disease hits native parrots

[dragontamer]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3514481/Killer-disease-hits-native-parrots



NZ borders have been closed to importing birds for about 20 years to protect our natives from this very thing.  So how, pray tell, did this get here?

And as for warning people not to release their pet birds as they will infect the natives - idiot!  Your wildlife will kill our domestic pets - caged birds are the last ones that will get this nasty disease. 

[ssweetpea]

Weren't Rosellas self introduced?
If so it is possible that more wild ones flew across the Tasman.

It is also possible that this is a new virilent form of a virus that has been here for years already.

You are right however this could easily spread. Parrots fly between islands in the Hauraki Gulf all the time.

Orange Fronted Parakeets were released on Motuihe when it was made pest free and soon migrated over to Motutapu and Rangitoto before the poison drops last year. That was something DOC didn't expect.

If they can manage that, getting to the mainland is a sinch.