A bizarre incident left motorists puzzled on Monday morning when approximately 20 mutton birds were killed after landing on Hobart’s Tasman Bridge.
Drivers reported seeing unusual “roadkill” scattered across the bridge during their morning commute, with some taking to social media to question the strange sight.
Authorities moved quickly to clear the deceased birds from the roadway to minimise traffic disruptions.
“Unfortunately, 20 birds were hit on the Tasman Bridge this morning,” a State Growth spokesperson told Pulse on Monday.
“This is highly unusual and they were cleared away as quickly as possible.”
“We encourage drivers to always drive to the conditions and look out for wildlife.”
Police say they responded to calls of “birds on the bridge” around 8:25am.
Officers were able to safely retrieve one bird, who was later collected by a wildlife sanctuary.
Mutton birds are known for becoming disoriented in certain conditions, which can lead to fatal collisions.
The seabirds rely on strong sea winds to take flight properly and may become stranded if they land on structures such as bridges or foreshores without sufficient wind to help their takeoff.
