City Parrots

Free Press Leader

ANGRY residents are calling on the State Government to cull cockatoos in the hills as a last resort if damage to their homes continues.

And a second petition, this one to the council, is calling for an investigation into a total ban on feeding cockatoos.

But an existing government agreement with a cafe in Grants Picnic Ground means cockatoos will

continue to be legally fed there for the next 11 years.

The petition to the State Government was distributed among the almost 150 irate residents who braved wet and wintry conditions to flock to Burrinja in Upwey for Thursday night’s cockatoo forum.

The petition calls on the Government to tackle the “unprecedented damage” caused by sulphur-crested cockatoos to the environment, native birdlife, homes, fences, crops and orchards.

It asks for immediate action, “including (if necessary) a reduction of their numbers”.

Ian Temby, senior biodiversity officer at the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), told the meeting that cockatoos were protected under the Victorian Wildlife Act.

But he said residents could still obtain DSE permits to trap and destroy the birds.

He was at a loss to explain why the spate of cockatoo damage had dramatically increased in recent months.

“Let me put it this way: they are not likely to stop causing damage any time soon,” Mr Temby said.

Another petition, asking the Shire of Yarra Ranges to investigate passing a by-law to ban the feeding of sulphur-crested cockatoos, was also distributed.

And Mayor Tim Heenan has urged residents to stop feeding the birds. Meanwhile, it was revealed that a lease agreement between Parks Victoria and Grants on Sherbrooke Cafe in Grants Picnic Ground allows people to feed birds, including cockatoos, until 2019.

Cheryl Campbell, co-owner of the cafe with husband Geoff, said bird-feeding was a major tourist attraction.

Dandenong Ranges National Park ranger Matt Hoogland said Parks Victoria and DSE were assessing whether bird-feeding in the picnic ground was socially and environmentally sustainable.

Anger boils at pesky pests

THERE was passion, desperation and even a little mirth.

But most of all there was unbridled anger.

Several months ago, suggesting an emergency cockatoo forum would have resulted in laughter all round.

Yet about 150 people crammed into Burrinja in Upwey on Thursday night as residents traded stories of cockatoo damage to homes, fences, decking and crops.

Mayor Tim Heenan came to listen to the ratepayers’ fury, as did Lyster and Streeton Ward councillors Samantha Dunn and Noel Cliff.

Most of the questions, however, were fired at Department of Sustainability and Environment representative Ian Temby, who had a simple message for residents who feed cockatoos.
“If people are putting out feed and these birds are getting a gutful of food, instead of staying in a spot for a couple of hours they might stay four or five.
“That just gives them more time to chew and do damage,” Mr Temby said.

A former Dandenong Ranges National Park ranger, Kallista resident John Lloyd, said cockatoos were damaging native flora as well as homes.
“I’m worried that the vegetation is looking very dowdy, particularly the lower and middle-storey vegetation. Also there are tree ferns in Sherbrooke Forest that are over 100 years old that have had the tops eaten out of them. They’ll never come back.
“But I’m also concerned about the branches that have been chewed off mountain ash trees in Sherbrooke Forest.”

Forum organiser Kaz Mackay said a working group, likely to comprise local residents and council representatives, would be formed to help tackle the cockatoo epidemic.

She told the Leader she was ecstatic at the huge turnout.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg of people who have been affected,” she said.

Hills residents wanting information on cockatoos should contact Mr Temby at DSE on 9296 4664.