Blue bird chicks are being killed by a life-threatening poultry mite, environmentalist Stuart Smith has told The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Smith said owners of blue bird boxes need to monitor them, as the chicks are being wiped out by the mite.

"The chicks are more prone to disease and attack, as they don't have many feathers," he said.

"I believe the mites are coming off the Island's feral chickens, which are an environmental disaster."

Mr. Smith said he believed that sparrows were carrying the poultry mites also.

"Sparrows are often trying to enter the blue bird boxes and the mites are being dropped off and they are sucking the blood of the chicks," he said.

The poultry mites are little red insects roughly half the size of an ant.

Mr. Smith said there are a few ways to get rid of them.

"Pour boiling water into the box to kill the mites after every brood has successfully flown away," he said.

"The mother blue bird lays one egg every day for five days, they hatch in 13 to 14 days, and 17 to 18 days later they are ready to fledge.

"The whole process takes about 37 days in total."

Mr. Smith said that even if the chicks are covered in the mites they can still be saved by taking the following steps:

Carefully remove the chicks from the box and put them into a darkened area.

One by one put the chicks onto white paper and the poultry mites will jump off onto the paper.

Smash the mites with your fingers.

Make a blue bird nest in the box from casuarina needles.

Try not to expose the chicks to too much light as they will try to fledge early.

Put the chicks into the new nest.

It is very important to monitor your boxes.

Andrew Dobson added that another option was to use Diatomtious Earth Powder, as it kills the mites.

If the powder is chosen as an option it must be placed under the nest and the mites will jump onto it because it is white.

Mr. Smith warned that although it does not harm the birds, precaution must be taken when removing the old nests because the powder causes respiratory problems in humans.

Mr. Smith said anyone needing more information should contact him on 734-9856.