Black Cockatoos in Orchards – the ‘noisy and scary’ alternative!

To read more about guidelines and methods used for bird control in orchards (specifically black cockatoos) visit the naturebase website.

The increase in land clearing for development and agriculture has caused a reduction in the amount of natural feeding habitat for black cockatoos and other birds and animals. As a result the cockatoos and other birds have resorted to finding other food sources such as fruits and nuts grown in orchards such as persimmon, almonds, macadamias and the seeds of apples.

Some best practice methods that are used for orchard protection from bird attack are:

1. Exclusion netting. This is the most reliable and effective prevention from damage, as the birds do not like to sit on the netting and are unable to feed underneath it. Netting is cost-effective when used to protect high-value crops. It is a long-term solution – usually guaranteed for some years, a humane way of reducing damage and permanent structures offer labour-free protection. Orchard netting usually improves fruit yield and reduces damage by wind, hail and rain, paying for itself in just a few years.

   Before deciding on netting aperture take note of the species that might be causing or have the potential to cause damage to the crop. For example, nets with medium sized holes might exclude larger birds but still allow smaller birds through.

2. Obtaining the use of a damage license from the Department of Conservation and Land Management. This is to be used only as a ‘scare’ tactic and not shoot to kill. The black cockatoos are threatened species that are listed as protected fauna under the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1950. They are slow breeders, producing one fledgling every 1-2 years, but up to two-thirds have been known to die before they reach breeding age. A heavy cull would reduce these numbers significantly, to the point where the recovery of the species would be impossible. Anyone found guilty of harming or killing these birds can incur fines of up to $10,000.