Rainbow Lorikeets are now pests in Perth too
WA Department of Agriculture
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The Department of Agriculture and Food and the Agriculture Protection Board (APB) have confirmed that the rainbow lorikeet's status as a declared pest has been extended to include the metropolitan area.
APB board member and Rainbow Lorikeet Working Group chair Maxinne Sclanders said the species was a significant pest in other parts of Australia and now posed a significant threat to horticulture crops in the south west of WA.
"Lorikeets were previously declared as pests in regional areas of the south west, so that action could be taken to prevent the establishment in the wild of satellite populations," she said.
"Official declaration has now been extended to include the Perth area after the pests began damaging commercial table grape crops in the Swan Valley and complaints from the general public increased.
"For some time, rainbow lorikeets have also been subject to an open season as acclimatised fauna under legislation administered by the Department of Environment and Conservation. This means lorikeets can be legally shot on private land in the South West Land Division without the need to obtain a damage licence or they can be or live-trapped once a trapping licence has been obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation."
The rainbow lorikeet is an agricultural pest in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. Unfortunately in Western Australia the Lorikeet is some times confused with the Western Rosella which is certainly not a pest.
Ms Sclanders said a scientific risk assessment conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food indicated the species posed an extreme threat (the highest of four categories) to Western Australia.
"The WA public has reported a number of problems caused by lorikeets in Perth including noise, damage to many backyard fruit crops, fouling of outdoor areas and vehicles with droppings, and competition with other species," she said. "The large flock that roosts at Perth Airport may also pose a bird-strike risk to aircraft.
"Negative environmental effects of rainbow lorikeets stem from their aggressive protection of feeding and nesting resources, which could exclude native species and their potential to spread Psittacine beak and feather disease to wild and captive parrots."
Ms Sclanders said that given the current size of the lorikeet population in Perth, eradication was very unlikely, but reduction in the numbers at key locations was possible.
"To do nothing will lead to further damage from a spreading population, more complaints and even less chance of managing the problem in the future," she said.
Grape Growers Association of WA President Kim Taylor welcomed the change in official status of lorikeets in Perth.
"Grape growers in the Swan Valley are working to set up a Declared Species Group so that pooled funds will be available to assist growers," he said.
"Last season we received reports of up to 30 per cent damage to some table grape varieties. This season, we are planning to undertake control activities to prevent this.
He indicated the support of the Rainbow Lorikeet Working Group, which includes representatives from the Department of Environment and Conservation, and conservation, horticultural and bird fancier associations had been very heartening.
Rainbow lorikeets are noisy, continuously screeching while in flight and when at a food source. They have a swift direct flight with rapid whirring wing beats, and display flashes of dark green and bright red.
For further information about rainbow lorikeets and to report sightings, contact the Department's Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881
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