Corella cull to scare first birds

PLANS to shoot the first 200 corellas that fly into Old Noarlunga next season as a scare tactic for the rest of the flock have been met with a mixed reaction by locals.

Members of the Old Noarlunga Commercial and Residents Association support the plans, but Friends of the Little Corella described the cull as “barbaric”.

Onkaparinga Council last week backed a new management plan for the 18,000 birds, recommended by Victorian corella expert Ian Temby.

It includes culling at least 200 and using scare tactics such as flashing lights, sirens and giant balloons.

Friends of the Little Corella spokeswoman Maree Smith said there was “absolutely no need” for a lethal element to be part of the strategy.

“We could be deterring the initial birds with kites - that’s proven to be successful,” Ms Smith, of Noarlunga Downs, said. “I still find it barbaric that we’re resorting to these cowboy ways.”

But association president Wayne Henkel said he was pleased to see action on an issue with which residents had been struggling for more than a decade.

“There are so many emotional issues with this - some residents are on the edge of hysteria because of the noise levels and loss of amenity,” Mr Henkel said.

Since the ‘90s, Old Noarlunga residents and business owners have battled with the annual corella invasion, which damages trees, makes a noisy racket and leaves messes with droppings.

NRM Board regional manager Kym Good told the council meeting a “lethal component” was necessary to ensure the corellas associated humans with danger. “There needs to be a series of scaring techniques so the birds don’t get used to them,” he said. “At least 200 corellas need to be killed straight up so the others know there is danger.”