LITTLE corella populations are on the rise this year in one Riverland council area, with the pest birds damaging local ovals and greenspaces and harassing local property owners.
In a report to the District Council of Loxton Waikerie monthly meeting held last Friday, environmental services manager Cheryle Pedler said the birds had “taken a liking” to the Loxton oval and The Precinct.
“In particular, the numbers have increased in Kingston-On-Murray and Waikerie, but the birds have certainly been persistent residents across the entire area,” she said.
“Recently residents have requested assistance with bird control at Paisley.
“The persistent control activities have benefited the main town river fronts, but have resulted in the birds moving upstream and downstream, impacting local property owners.”
Ms Pedler said council had received complaints from residents about the noise of gun shots, the cost of bird-scaring plane flights, and the impact of control operations on birds.
“As a result, council staff have varied some practices to vary the locations of shooting, and have encouraged the plane contractor to push the birds harder to reach less-populated areas,” she said.
Ms Pedler told the Murray Pioneer the council spends about $22,000 annually on corella control measures, including staff time.
“Our control activities are a mixture of live and scare shooting, bird-scaring flights carried out by a contractor, lighting of trees, and more,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the birds move around the area, so we spend a lot of time trying to protect infrastructure.
“If we didn’t do corella control along our river front areas we probably wouldn’t have any green space.
“The damage they cause to trees and grassed areas is unbelievable.
“It’s a huge issue.”
Ms Pedler said little corellas were causing issues across the Riverland and South Australia, and recommended council request that the Riverland Local Government Forum lobby the State Government for a statewide approach, warning there would be “greater social, economic and environmental impacts to our area” without one.
“Obviously, all three of the Riverland councils are very active with these control measures, as are the Mid Murray Council,” she said.
“We really want the State Government to take the lead and institute a co-ordinated response.
“The sooner we can all work together in an effort to try and control the issue, the better off we’re going to be.”
Ms Pedler said council staff would continue little corella control activities until at least April.