Murray Bridge Council to blast bird calls in a bid to lure problem little corellas away from popular reserves

Bird calls would be broadcast from loudspeakers and drones under a new plan to redirect corellas from popular parks and towards a parrot paradise in a new location.

Loudspeakers and drones broadcasting bird calls would entice little corellas to bypass popular reserves and settle at a “sacrificial site” prepped to become a bird paradise, under a Murray Bridge Council plan.

It’s believed to be the first time the technology has been used in an attempt to redirect corellas in Australia.

Murray Bridge is among councils that have long been grappling with how to deal with hundreds of corellas that turn up in summer, causing damage in parks.

Council chief executive Michael Sedgman said early next year, councillors would be asked to consider where to set up a sacrificial site, at which the birds would be free from being harassed by shooting or other “management” techniques.

“It’s a two-fold strategy, based on birdsong recordings that say to the birds, ‘Hey guys, 4km away is a food store that you will probably find more interesting than what you’ve got here’,” he said.

Little corellas love urban areas with open sight lines, so they can watch for predators.

“We’re seeking to progress an arrangement with a third-party provider to trail the technology here in Murray Bridge.”

Loudspeakers, and possibly drones, would be used at the popular riverside Sturt Reserve to broadcast deterrent birdcalls, while others at and near the sacrificial site will sound out attraction messages.

Nesting and feeding habitat for the little corellas will be improved at a sacrificial site, to make it attractive enough to keep the birds away from reserves popular with people.

Trees and grasses would be planted, and seed potentially left for the parrots.

Murray Bridge mayor Brenton Lewis with council CEO Michael Sedgman. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

As a “short-term measure”, the council has a company on standby to shoot scout little corellas, deterring the large flocks that follow them and cause damage at Sturt Reserve.

But the birds, which usually turn up in December, are yet to arrive.

Murray Bridge’s project is part of a long-running battle regional councils are facing to curb the damage the birds make when they strip bark of trees, pull up turf and chew through electrical wiring.

Little Corellas in an olive grove at Victoria Park. Picture: Russell Millard

Little corellas are attracted to urban areas with wide open spaces, where it is easier to see potential predators.

Mr Sedgman said similar technology had been used by apple orchard owners in the Adelaide Hills to deter birds such as yellow-tailed cockatoos, galahs and lorikeets from eating their fruit.

The Local Government Association called for expressions of interest from councils to bid for funding to trial “habitat interventions” and drive away the native birds, and share their findings.

Murray Bridge will receive $5000 funding for its project, while Roxby Downs Council will also receive a $5000 grant as part of its plan to test planting understorey plants to reduce the number of little corellas roosting in trees.

Murray Bridge Council has budgeted $50,000 for corella management work this year.

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