Warning for wildlife

By Tania Martin
PARKS Victoria has renewed calls for motorists to watch out for lyrebirds after one narrowly escaped serious injury.
A lyrebird recently had a lucky escape after being run over by a vehicle but only suffered minor cuts and lost several feathers.
The bird had run underneath a car on Terry’s Avenue near Tecoma.
The driver stopped and with the help of another motorist, the lyrebird was bundled into a box and taken to the Grants on Sherbrooke Tea Rooms.
Parks Victoria was contacted and a ranger took the bird for medical assessment and treatment.
It was later released into the forest and although a bit ruffled it eagerly returned into its natural habitat.
Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group’s Jan Incoll said hit-and-run accidents were a big problem for the birds.
“In any one year we know at least half a dozen lyrebirds are killed on the roads in the Dandenongs but this number could be much higher from the cases that are not reported or where the birds are not found,” she said.
“In some instances the drivers of the vehicles don’t stop to check its condition or they remove a dead bird from the road.”
Ms Incoll said more injured birds could be saved if drivers acted responsibly when they hit them and stop.
Parks Victoria ranger Matt Hoogland said drivers should be aware that there are more animals and birds out and about during spring.
“Many native animals are feeding close to the roads that wind through the Dandenong Ranges at the moment.
“Road users are reminded to drive more slowly as a way of reducing the number of birds and animals injured or killed,” he said.
Mr Hoogland urged motorists who hit animals to call Parks Victoria on 131 963, or the 24 hour emergency line for wildlife on 13 ‘000’ WILDLIFE (13 000 94535) to ensure treatment is received as soon as practicable.