Local Land Services are ruling out avian influenza as the cause of a number of mysterious duck deaths in a town in Western New South Wales.
A veterinarian in Cobar has been inundated with calls from members of the public who are finding dead ducks in odd places, such as in the middle of roads or in people's gardens.
"We're still not 100 per cent sure what the deaths are being caused by," Cobar veterinarian Lauren Leicester said.
Local Land Services confirmed a "duck mortality event" in Cobar reported on February 28, and it followed one earlier in the month when around 20 ducks died.
The total death toll has risen to about 50 birds.
So far they said the ducks had tested negative for emergency animal diseases, including avian influenza.
However, water and carcass samples have been sent to relevant laboratories for further analysis with the results to be provided to the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
Cobar Shire Council, WIRES and a local veterinary clinic have also been notified of the event.
Dr Leicester said she had six or seven ducks at her clinic for observation.
"If you have a dead animal, sometimes with decomposition and things like that you can't get a definitive answer. You need live animal bloods," she said.
The dead ducks are predominantly wood ducks.
Cobar resident Natalie Freeman said she had "never seen anything like it before".
The town's industrial area seemed to have the greatest concentration of dead ducks, with Ms Freeman noting she saw five or six dead there one morning and noticed dead ducks around the town as well.
Another long-time resident Codi McKay reported she saw a duck fall from the sky and land on the road about 5 metres in front of her.
"It went all over me," she said.
Other residents around town said they saw a number of dead ducks on Monday, but haven't reported seeing any more since then.
Dr Leicester said many of the ducks were exhibiting neurological symptoms.
"They were very lethargic, very reluctant to move ... we're seeing some neurological signs before sudden death," she said.
Dr Leicester has sent off some ducks for testing at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, but it could take up to three weeks to get all the results back.
Dr Leicester said, in the meantime, the public should be careful if handling any sick or dead ducks.
"We're urging the public to wear gloves when handling the birds, and if you do find a dead bird, double bag the remains and give Local Lands Services in Cobar a call as to how to dispose of the birds," she said.
"For any live birds, we're urging people to call WIRES or us at the vet."
