Anthony Vella tosses and turns to the “frustrating” sounds that fill each night. Pesky long-billed corellas are squawking their way through the midnight hours and destroying the Diggers Rest resident’s backyard.
“It’s more the mess they leave and the destruction they cause,” Mr Vella said.
“Whatever they sit on, they rip apart – anything – rubber on cars’ windscreen wipers, house roofs and just whatever’s lying around. Even if you have nets over your fruit trees, the corellas eat them away.”
Long-billed corellas are white with a reddish-pink face and forehead. They have a long, pale beak and reddish-pink feathers on the breast and belly.
The long-time Diggers Rest resident said he noticed an influx of the birds over the past couple of years and was hoping Melton council would take a proactive approach to reducing numbers or moving the birds on.
When Star Weekly approached the council for comment, leisure services manager Adrian Burns agreed the corellas had caused “some damage” around the municipality.
“They have caused some damage to the main cricket/football ground at Diggers Rest recreation reserve by damaging the turf and cricket pitch surface,” Mr Burns said.
“The Diggers Rest football club temporarily moved to the back oval due to the damage caused by the birds.
“Council acted promptly and the grounds are now back to playable condition.”
The corellas have also damaged trees at council parks and streets.
“At this stage there is little the council can do other [than] wait for the birds to move on,” Mr Burns said.
Diggers Rest Football Club president Chris Payne said the team had just moved back to the main reserve at the weekend after training and playing at the “back oval” since November.
“Corellas get in there and dig little holes. It’s important that we have a safe playing surface.”
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning wildlife officer Katie Knight said corellas were attracted to “easy” food sources, such as commercial crops or where locals feed birds in suburban areas.
“Reducing access to food sources should greatly reduce the damage caused by corellas.”
Extensive damage can be reported to the department by calling 136 186. It is illegal to kill, maim or harm corellas as they are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.
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