Common pesticide caused mass death of little corellas, NSW environment watchdog confirms

A dead little corella in Newcastle in March. The NSW environment watchdog has confirmed a mass death pf 200 birds was caused by a common pesticide. Photograph: Hunter Wildlife Rescue

A common agricultural pesticide caused the mass deaths of 200 little corellas across Newcastle in March, the New South Wales environment watchdog has confirmed.

The Environment Protection Authority said toxicology tests had detected the presence of barley grain and the pesticide fenitrothion in all the deceased birds.