Corellas in the crosshairs

Attempts to control Rockingham’s growing corella problem will intensify in 2017, with some of the birds to be culled.

TheTelegraph can reveal that a proposal to undertake a co-ordinated corella control program has been finalised by the WA Local Government Association in consultation with the Corella Co-ordination Group, which will involve an undisclosed number of birds being attracted, trapped and humanely euthanised.

The control activity is set to be undertaken by both WALGA and the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels confirmed Rockingham had been selected to host a control site.

“The co-ordinated control focuses on undertaking control at a small number of key locations across the metropolitan area to reduce the harmful impact of this introduced species to local communities, environment and infrastructure,” he said.

“Key control locations have been selected based on their capacity to attract birds and ability to securely conduct activities.” The City, WALGA and DPaW were unable to confirm exactly where the con-trol site in Rockingham would be.

Attempts to address the corella issue in Rockingham began in June when the City of Rockingham council endorsed a motion for a corella management strategy.

The strategy was later endorsed at WALGA’s annual meeting in August.

Residents in Rockingham Beach have long complained of a disruptive and growing corella population, with many claiming the birds are ruining their quality of life.

The birds have been described as an introduced pest species that poses an environmental threat to black cockatoos by competing for nest sites.

They also have the ability to remove eggs from other birds’ nest hollows and to kill or maim advanced nestlings.

The corella population in Rockingham is believed to drift between Rockingham Beach, Shoalwater and Safety Bay.