Calls grow for cull of huge flocks of little corellas causing problems in Adelaide’s parklands
AN “UNPRECEDENTED” number of corellas are causing havoc across Adelaide’s parklands, prompting calls for a cull of the native birds.
AN “unprecedented” number of cockatoos have descended on Adelaide’s parklands, roosting on buildings, damaging homes and prompting calls for a potential cull of the native birds.
Hundreds of little corellas have settled on the eastern parklands feeding on native vegetation and trees and surrounding buildings.
The flocks, which have been described as being in “plague” proportions, stretch from Victoria Park to North Tce, with many settling near Rymill Park.
Residents have told the Sunday Mail of their frustration of the short and long-billed corellas leaving droppings on their houses, nibbling on electrical cables and causing a racket.
But Adelaide City Council, which oversees parklands management, rejected locals’ calls for a cull.
Former city councillor Peter Darley, who lives near the parklands, described the birds as a “shocking nuisance”.
“When you live on the parklands that’s (birds) all part of it but they are at plague proportions at the moment,” said the retired businessman.
“How would you get rid of them? Something needs to be done. I am not game to go up on my roof. If they are doing damage to the trees I would be in favour of a cull.”
Kali Hunter-Constantine, who also lives nearby, said the birds were chipping away the brickwork at the front of her house.
“It is a real problem for us. There are just too many,” said Mrs Hunter-Constantine, who owns her own events company and supported a cull.
Lindsay Ryan, the East End Co-ordination group vice-president, said he had “never seen anything like it before” but said a bird cull was not the “first answer”.
“It is just incredible how many there are,” he said. “I just can’t get over the numbers. My concern is what impact they will have on the parklands.”
Councillor Anne Moran, a member of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority, said she had received several complaints and wouldl request staff to investigate the birds’ impacts.
“There is an unprecedented number. It has become a problem. Culling is awful so maybe there is a way to move the birds,” she said.
The Environment Department states little corellas are among several native species whose behaviour can have an economic, social and environmental “detrimental impact”.
Under state law, government permission must be sought to shoot, trap or gas the birds.
Tom McCready, the council’s public realm executive manager, said the birds, which were resting, feeding or watering, were not in “plague numbers”.
He said the council had received no formal complaints about the birds.
“Typically these birds stay for short periods … before moving on,” he said. “As we believe the birds will move on, there are no plans to look at other measures to remove birds.”
An Environment Department spokeswoman said landholders were responsible for managing “native or feral animals that are causing a nuisance on their property”.
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