Community forum hears feedback on cockatoo bin trial

A WILDLIFE behavioural expert has offered a seemingly simple solution to the issue of cockatoos rummaging through bins in Lorne; stop feeding them.

Management consultant Ian Temby was one of a group of panel speakers at last week’s forum in Lorne on the issue, in which the Surf Coast Shire Council is trialling three separate bin locking devices to deter the birds and other wildlife.

“I’m sure everyone’s got opinions about cockatoos, I certainly do, I’m impressed by them, they’re very intelligent playful birds. Of course some are vandals, but that’s play behaviour,” Mr Temby said.

With more than 30 years’ experience consulting governments on contentious management issues, he now specialises in conflict resolution between humans and wildlife, and has previously worked with the shire on its campaign to stop people feeding the birds.

Noting that feeding cockatoos could kill them, Mr Temby stressed feeding had other negative consequences such as attracting them to urban areas where they are known for causing damage to buildings.

“There is an absolute direct link between providing food to cockatoos, and cockatoos causing damage to buildings and other infrastructure,” he said.

Citing a Victorian Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action study that included feedback from 100 people who had reported damage to their homes by cockatoos, he said that “in almost every one of those cases, they were aware of someone in the vicinity who was feeding cockatoos”.

He said a consequence of birds being provided food in urban centres meant they no longer busy themselves foraging in the wild.

“They’re not looking to eat, they’re simply looking to entertain themselves. They don’t need food in bins, I think there’s satisfaction in pulling things out of them and getting the occasional bit of food as a result.

“If food provision is stopped overnight, those birds will simply go back to their normal life.”

The Surf Coast Shire’s co-ordinator of waste management Neil Brewster told the forum that the shire had been working on resolving the issue for a decade.

“It’s been an issue for quite a while and it gives you an appreciation for the challenge we’re facing, how smart and conniving they can be, and playful,” he said. referring to Mr Temby’s presentation.

He noted areas of Sydney had similar issues, and the Taroonga Zoo has been investigating management options, but have “not found a solution”.

“It was about 2016 when we started this business (bin locks). Some have had varied success and looked very hopeful, but others we knew they wouldn’t last for long, but we gave them a go anyway.

“Everyone’s trying, we’re trying, the community’s trying, it’s a very difficult issue.”