An attack at the Temuka Domain aviary left 32 birds dead, many of them decapitated, in a vicious attack on Tuesday night.
Heads and feathers were ripped from the birds' bodies and their remains were scattered around the domain, about 19km north of Timaru, the Timaru Herald reported.
Cockatoos, parrots, canaries and rainbow lorikeets were among the dead, and some were sitting on eggs.
Temuka police yesterday took photos and fingerprints from the aviary.
Sergeant Graham Sharpe said police hoped the aviary's parrots would have fought their attacker and left scratches or bites to help identify them.
"It is just mindless and will be treated as a very serious offence," he said.
"We want to hear from anyone who may have any information."
Timaru Bird Club vice-president Pat Rule estimated the birds were worth around $4000.
