Bird plague causes child health fears
Monday, July 23, 2012 at 15:50 
Little corella's in arial combatSCORES of corellas plaguing an Old Noarlunga school have sparked health concerns and calls for urgent action.
Old Noarluna Primary principal Lyn Ferenci was concerned the birds created a health risk for students, with the Patapinda Rd school hiring contractors with industrial hoses during corella season to remove bird faeces and debris.
"Some parents have raised issues about the health risks ... I think it is something that sits in people's minds," Ms Ferenci said. "I would hate for any of the kids to be taken to a doctor and for them to say they're sick because of the bird droppings."
Ms Ferenci said teachers and administration staff often cleaned up bird faeces when the school's part-time groundsman was away.
"We'll get in contractors with high-pressure hoses about twice a year to do a thorough clean and use proper disinfectants, especially at the end of the season" she said.
"The biggest issue for us is the health and hygiene ... we need to stay on top of the cleaning because of the potential bacteria.
"Sometimes (the teachers) come in on a Monday after the birds have been here a lot and the staff have to get out brooms and clean, which does put extra pressure on our resources.
"We just want a program that reduces the impact."
Ms Ferenci said the bird faeces made the school look "horrible".
"There is a lot of extra cleaning of the yard, seating and table tops, and a lot more time and effort put into cleaning up the debris they leave as well.
"Sometimes we have to use disinfectant on the tables and places where the kids eat, or tell them they just can't use them until they're cleaned."
Ms Ferenci said the school's arborist inspected all the trees after every corella season to prevent falling branches caused by the birds.
Onkaparinga councillors voted last month to lobby the State Government to take control of corella management in the district.
The decision came after the meeting was told last season's culling program had had little impact.
A report to the council recommended that the program - which involved shooting up to 200 birds and using noise to scare the rest away - start in October this year, two months earlier than last year.
A Environment Department spokeswoman said a meeting would be held with the council to discuss options for managing corellas.
She said the Health Department would also be consulted about the potential health risks caused by bird faeces.