Bird ban

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). Wamboin, NSW, Australia. Photo: David CookHILLS residents caught feeding sulphur-crested cockatoos could soon be breaking the law as a local council bans bird feeding.

Yarra Ranges Council last week approved a move to prohibit backyard feeding in a bid to curb cockatoo related damage.

For the past four years residents in Upwey and Kallista have been battling to pay for rising damage bills as cockatoos continue to feed on houses and community centres.

The bird feeding ban follows a decision last September which called for a report into the need for a law to stop feeding.

At an ordinary meeting last Tuesday, 13 April, the council agreed to start working on a law to prohibit feeding.

They also moved to continue with an education program throughout the shire and revisit the issue in 12 months’ time.

Belgrave resident Kate Gustke called for feeding to be outlawed.

She said there had been enough information provided to residents about the effects of feeding but the message was failing to get through.

Ms Gustke said introducing a ban would send a stern message that feeding cockatoos was not only unacceptable but illegal.

But Ryrie Ward’s Cr Jeanette McRae said it was the State Government’s job to introduce new by-laws.

However Lyster Ward’s Cr Samantha Dunn said the council had a role to play when so many people were suffering damage.

But the question remains how the proposed law would be enforced.