Mystery as dozens of budgies drop dead at show

Animal experts are baffled as to why 38 budgies suddenly dropped dead at a show on the weekend. Hundreds of birds were being prepared to line up in front of judges at a show in North Wales - until one collapsed.

Within seconds the budgie death toll was rising rapidly. Owners and organisers scrambled to get their prized pets out of Gwynedd village hall fearing a gas leak.

However a thorough investigation into the incident came up with no explanation. Retired pet shop owner Dave Cottrell, 55, lost 10 birds at the show.



"I was preparing the certificates as the birds were being put in order when a steward came over and said he had a dead one. Then another steward came over said he had two or three dead. Within seconds a third steward said he had more dead."

Robert Hughes, who organised the annual Gwynedd Budgerigar Society Open Show, said: "Five minutes after the first one died 11 more had gone, one was mine. Nobody in the community has seen nor heard anything like this before. It's bizarre. It has been really difficult to get over it.

Checks on two casualties later revealed they had died from congestion and haemorrhaging of the lungs.