Problems in Victoria Caused by Long-Billed Corellas/ Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos and Galahs
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ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE PROBLEMS IN VICTORIA CAUSED BY LONG-BILLED CORELLAS/ SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS AND GALAHS NOVEMBER 1995 PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA ENVIROf\IMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITIEE REPORT ON PROBLEMS IN VICTORIA CAUSED BY LONG-BILLED CORELLAS, SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS AND GALAHS NOVEMBER 1995 VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER 1995 No 67 Session 1994/95 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mr. D.J. Perrin, M.P., Bulleen (Chairman) Hon. B.T. Pullen, M.L.C., Melbourne Province (Deputy Chairman) Hon. G.H. Cox, M.L.C., Nunawading Province Hon. R.S. de Fegely, M.L.C., Ballarat Province Hon. D.M. Evans, M.L.C., North Eastern Province Hon. D.E. Henshaw, M.B.E., M.L.C., Geelong Province Ms. C.F. Marple, M.P., Altona Mr. J. Pandazopoulos, M.P., Dandenong Hon. Dr. R.J.H. Wells, M.L.C., Eumemmerring Province STAFF Dr. R. Wright Executive Officer Mr. I. Temby Research Officer Ms. J. Cresswell Office Manager Address all inquiries to: Level19, Nauru House 80 Collins Street MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3000 Telephone: (03) 9655 6859/53 Facsimile: (03) 9655 6075 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITIEE Parliamentary Committees Act 1968 4EA. Environment and Natural Resources Committee The functions of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee are to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on- (a) any proposal, matter or thing concerned with the environment; (b) any proposal, matter or thing concerned with natural resources; (c) any proposal, matter or thing concerned with planning the use, development or protection of land - if the Committee is required or permitted so to do by or under this Act. TERMS OF REFERENCE The Governor in Council, under section 4F of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968 refers the following matters to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee for inquiry, consideration and report to the Parliament. To (a) investigate the nature, extent and severity of problems caused by Long billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs; and (b) identify any factors that may have contributed to damage caused by these birds; (c) review scientific and other investigations and assess the effectiveness of current control methods carried out in relation to Corella, Cockatoo and Galah damage and recommend - (1) farm management systems and techniques and programs which can minimise damage; (2) bird control/ management techniques and programs necessary to reduce the impact on private property, crops, regenerating vegetation, other environmental values and public facilities, without compromising the viability of the species; (d) identify the implications of implementing the recommendation[s] in (c) The Committee is required to make a final report to the Parliament on these matters before 31 March 1995. Dated 27 September 1994 Published in the Victoria Government Gazette,6 October 1994, p. 2691 Responsible Minister: The Hon. C. G. Coleman, M.P., Minister for Natural Resources AMENDED TERMS OF REFERENCE The Governor in Councit under section 4F of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968 amends, as follows, the Order in Council dated 27 September 1994 published in Government Gazette No. G40 on 6 October 1994 (p. 2691) requiring the Environment and Natural Resources Committee to inquire into matters relating to Long-billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs: In that Order, for '31 March 1995' substitute 'the last day of the Spring Sittings of Parliament in 1995'. Dated 28 March 1995 Published in the Victoria Government Gazette, 30 March 1995, p. 743 Responsible Minister: The Hon. C. G. Coleman, M.P., Minister for Natural Resources TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Environment and Natural Resources Committee: Members Environment and Natural Resources Committee: Functions ii Terms of Reference lll Amended Terms of Reference IV Table of Contents V List of Plates viii List of Figures ix List of Tables ix Executive Summary xi Summary of Recommendations XIX INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Report of the Inquiry 1 1.2 Origin of the Inquiry 1 1.3 Terms of Reference 2 1.4 Submissions 3 1.5 Conduct of the Inquiry 4 1.6 Structure of the Report 6 2 ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND 7 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 Description of Species 8 2.3 Distribution and Habitat 12 2.4 Breeding 21 2.5 Behaviour 23 2.6 Estimated Numbers 29 2.7 Summary 32 V 3 REGULA TORY FRAMEWORK 33 3.1 Introduction 33 3.2 International Controls 33 3.3 National Controls 35 3.4 State and Territory Controls 37 3.5 Victorian Controls 41 3.6 Summary 46 4 BIRD PESTS AND BIRD DAMAGE 49 4.1 Introduction 49 4.2 Bird Pest Problems 49 4.3 Damage to Agricultural and Horticultural Products 54 4.4 Non-Crop Damage on Farms 63 4.5 Other Problems 66 4.6 The Wider Social Context 71 4.7 Conclusion 74 5 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DAMAGE 77 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 Behaviour 77 5.3 Diet 81 5.4 Other Factors 82 5.5 Summary 84 6 BIRD DAMAGE CONTROL 87 6.1 Introduction 87 6.2 Bird Damage Control Methods 89 6.3 Farm Management 127 6.4 Bird Damage Control Strategies 139 6.5 Extension 141 6.6 Summary 143 7 BIRD DAMAGE CONTROL MEASURES 147 7.1 Introduction 147 7.2 Bird Destruction Cautions 148 7.3 Roost Trees 149 7.4 Planted Tree Seedlings 150 7.5 Germinating Crops 151 7.6 Ripening Crops 153 7.7 Fixtures 154 7.8 Feedlots 155 7.9 Feed Trails and Stubbles 156 7.10 Soft Timber on Houses and Outdoor Furniture 156 7.11 Noise 158 7.12 Commercial Fruit and Nut Trees 158 7.13 Hay Bales 159 7.14 Silage and Grain Covers 160 7.15 Commercial Flower Crops 161 7.16 Grape Vines 162 7.17 Bowling Greens; Ovals; Golf Courses; etc. 162 7.18 Summary 163 8 IMPLICATIONS 165 8.1 Introduction 165 8.2 Currently Available Techniques 166 8.3 Extension 167 8.4 Research 169 8.5 Administrative Changes 170 8.6 Cockatoo Numbers 172 8.7 Summary 172 APPENDICES 173 A Submissions received by the Environment and Natural 173 Resources Committee B P~&H~~~ 1n C Inspections 180 D Self-reported Financial Estimates of Damage 181 NOTES 185 LIST OF PLATES Page Plate 1 Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris 9 Plate 2 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 10 Plate 3 Galah Cacatua roseicapilla 11 Plate 4 Typical large flock of Long-billed Corellas with some 27 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs Plate 5 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Charlton, 1995 28 Plate 6 Cockatoo damage to Chestnut trees, Glenburn, 1995 56 Plate 7 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo damage to Wheat, 60 Boorhaman, December 1994 Plate 8 Long-billed Cor ell a damage to Maize Zea mays, 60 'Tarndwarncoort', east of Colac, January 1982 Plate 9 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo damage to western red 68 cedar timber on house, Anglesea, March 1995 Plate 10 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo damage to oregon picnic 69 table, Bundoora Park, March 1995 Plate 11 Long-billed Corellas in newly-sown Oats crop, 78 Mirranatwa, Grampians, May 1981 Plate 12 Bird trap being operated, Laharum, March 1993 123 Plate 13 Bird trap in sprung position, Laharum, March 1993 123 Plate 14 Permanent bird exclusion netting over vineyard, Red 138 Hill South, April 1995 Acknowledgement Front cover plate of Long-billed Corellas by Ian Temby LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 Distribution of Native Yam and River Red Gum in 12 south-eastern Australia at the time of pioneer settlement Figure 2 Range of the Long-billed Corella 16 Figure 3 Mean annual rainfall and rainfall zones in south 17 eastern Australia Figure 4 Range of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 20 Figure 5 Range of the Galah 22 Figure 6 Long-billed Corella movement distances 24 Figure 7 Shires in which Long-billed Corellas and Sulphur 45 crested Cockatoos are 'Unprotected Wildlife' Acknowledgement Chapter heading illustrations were drawn by Jeff Davies (Long-billed Corella) and Nicolas Day (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and Galah}. LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Comparative breeding and survival characteristics of 23 the three species Table 2 Estimated losses due to cockatoo damage, nut crops, 57 1995 Table 3 Summary of bird damage controls examined in Section 90 6.2 Table 4 Summary of farm management strategies examined in 128 Section 6.3 PAGE X EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND The Environment and Natural Resources Committee was given Terms of Reference asking that it inquire into problems in Victoria caused by Long billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs. The Committee was asked to investigate the nature, extent and severity of those problems; to identify factors that may have contributed to such problems; to assess the effectiveness of current control methods; and to identify the implications that may result from implementing any bird damage control recommendations that the Committee might make. The Inquiry was initiated by the Minister for Natural Resources and was motivated by a desire to address a problem that has existed for some 20 years and which shows no signs of abating. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND Long-billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs - referred to collectively in the Report as 'cockatoos'- are members of the parrot family. Prior to European occupation, cockatoos occurred in large numbers in parts of the region. Pioneer settlement in Victoria replaced the original major food of the Long-billed Corella in particular - the Murnong or Native Yam- with exotic grain crops and weeds including Onion Grass. These reliable, accessible food sources rapidly became staples of the Long-billed Corella diet. The removal of timber cover by primary industry combined with competition with rabbits and the uncontrolled use of poison led to a contraction in the range of the Long-billed Corella and a marked reduction in numbers.