Potts Point cockatoos face poisoning

Matthew McLarty: Sulphur crested Cockatoo

The planned culling of a number of sulphur crested cockatoos in Potts Point has outraged local residents, who fear the poison used to kill the native birds may cause ecological damage within the community.

The cull is a response to complaints from owners in an apartment complex on Greenknowe Avenue.

The birds have damaged one of Sydney’s oldest apartment buildings to the point where the owners feel there is no other option but to have them destroyed.

But Greens Councillor Irene Doutney said the the cull was “incredibly sad and unfair”.

“Unless the birds drop dead instantly, I can’t see how they’ll stop them flying off and being eaten by someone’s pet or maybe even one of our much lauded local birds of prey,” Ms Doutney said.

Andrew Woodhouse, president of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Conservation Society, said the cull was cruel and unnecessary.

“The birds can be controlled more easily by using common anti-pigeon spikes,” he said.

Like Cr Doutney, Mr Woodhouse was concerned about the risk that the poison could easily spread to much loved pets and from there enter the food chain.

“We shouldn’t use toxic chemicals in our densest urban environments,” Mr Woodhouse he said.

Alternative solutions were discussed and attempts at negotiation had been made, but the owners withdrew and the state government then said that it intended to approve the cockatoo cull.

“I worry that this government, and the previous one, are helping to build a culture of selfishness, where people feel that if an animal is inconvenient to them they automatically have the right to kill it,” said Cr Doutney.