Little Corellas Are Known to Damage Electrical Cabling, a Variety of Sports Playing Surfaces, Assets in the Region, Defoliate Trees and Forage in Newly Sown Crops
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Little Corellas are known to damage electrical cabling, a variety of sports playing surfaces, assets in the region, defoliate trees and forage in newly sown crops. This, combined with their ability to produce a significant amount of noise when in large flocks and their potential to spread disease, makes the Little Corella a significant source of nuisance for the community. Little Corella Behaviour Help for landowners Little Corella flock in large numbers and descend on a In South Australia, the National Parks and Wildlife Act few localised areas. They are highly intelligent birds 1972 declares this species (Little Corella) to be an with a communal and habitual nature. One of their abundant species and unprotected. This means that motivations for roosting in town is likely for shelter private property owners, with the appropriate and security. licences, may cull Little Corellas by shooting without a permit. Flocks arrive in Murray Bridge and its surrounds from September through to November when breeding pairs The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) form. It is not until the autumn break when significant has prepared a code of practice for the humane rainfall softens the ground over a wide area, or the destruction of birds by shooting, which is available on weather becomes too cool, in April - May that these their website. flocks once again disperse into smaller groups for the This code of practice must be followed at all times. winter and leave the area. DEW developed a management plan using input from The typical daily activity pattern for Little Corellas is to Councils which can be found at start calling at first light and as the light grows, birds https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/plants- begin to move throughout the area as they feed and and-animals/Abundant_species/little-corellas forage. Little Corellas return to the evening roosting Property owners experiencing detrimental impacts site, often in townships, near sunset and are noisy caused by Little Corellas can use a variety of non-lethal while settling to roost. methods to deter them from frequenting their It is not known where the birds migrate to during property. These include the use of loud, sharp noises winter and early spring. where appropriate or rotating flashing lights and high- powered torches between sunset and sunrise. Understanding Little Corellas Consider your neighbours if using these methods. The Little Corellas are an Australian wide problem. use of physical barriers such as bird netting or visual Councils from coastal Western Australia to Victoria are deterrents may be better in some situations. These troubled by large flocks of Little Corellas and 2-3 methods need to be used consistently to be at all related species. effective. Councils have tried a myriad of methods to stop the Rural property owners must comply with Little Corellas from roosting, spending many hundreds requirements set by the Environmental Protection of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, no Council has Authority (EPA) and Country Fire Service (CFS) when succeeded in preventing the Little Corellas from using gas guns to deter these birds from their returning or moving them away permanently. property. Little Corella Fact Sheet Jan 2020 Info id: xxx Help for landowners (cont’d) What action is Council undertaking? It is important to employ a multi-faceted approach Council’s focus is the protection of its assets as with several control mechanisms to ensure that the elimination and eradication of the birds is beyond its birds do not become accustomed to one particular resources and scope. Council’s energies will be to control method. Of particular importance is to restrict disrupt the Little Corellas at Sturt Reserve and keeping their access to food sources where possible and wide- Pine Park clean of debris. open spaces. Council is working with other councils, the Local Whilst Little Corellas are listed as an unprotected Government Association, Landscape SA and research species, other protected species are known to flock bodies to understand their behaviour better and find with Little Corellas. This includes the Long-Billed workable control options. Corella (which is similar in appearance), and the In the medium to longer-term, Council is redeveloping Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo. Both species are protected Sturt Reserve with the plan to include modifications and must not be destroyed without a permit. designed to reduce the birds draw to the reserve. Council and SA Water are investigating reclaimed Rural property owners should discourage these birds swamps as a sacrificial area to be attractive to the from accessing water sources which include stock birds and provide a better roosting and feeding troughs and pooled water as well as food sources such alternative to their current preferred sites. as spilt grain. Further Information For further information or assistance, please go to DEW on https://www.environment.sa.gov.au and search for Little Corellas or https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/public/plants_and_animals/abundant_species/little- corellas-a-way-forward-gen.pdf?BestBetMatch=little%20corella|720cd45f-5fec-4627-9f29- 24303b5b894c|1771538a-419d-4c71-bd57-9e0e00fd8c25| Little Corella Fact Sheet Jan 2020 Info id: xxx .