Feeding problems

By Ed Merrison
RESIDENTS are being asked to help tackle bored cockatoos who are spending their leisure time chewing chunks out of window frames.
Tecoma resident Shirley Johnston believes well-meaning people feeding cockatoos are inadvertently causing the birds to become bored and destructive, claims backed up by Government wildlife officers.
“Our front windows are being attacked and demolished by cockatoos,” Ms Johnston said.
“They chew large chunks out of the window and if they keep doing it and we can’t find a way to stop them we’re going to have to replace the front window.”
Ms Johnston, who has lived in Tecoma for more than seven years, said the problem had become far more severe in recent months.
“Residents put out seeds but it’s not good to feed them because it just increases the population and the area can’t sustain them. And the minute you feed them they become bored and destructive.
“I’d just like to educate people because they think they’re doing a nice thing by feeding the birds but you just can’t do that. It’s wrong,” she said.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) wildlife damage control officer Ian Temby said Ms Johnston was right to link residents’ bird-feeding habits to the destruction to homes.
“What happens when someone provides food is it encourages (the birds) to come back repeatedly.
“They know there’s a food source, they can fill themselves up quickly and it gives them a lot of spare time to do what they do, which is to chew things and keep their beak in order,” Mr Temby said.
“Once they discover soft door frames they can rip into they’ll keep doing it because it’s rewarding for them.”
If not supplied with food, Mr Temby said the birds would spend a lot of time foraging and feeding on natural food sources in a range of trees and in the ground. Such foraging is not typically done around houses.
Mr Temby also backed up Ms Johnston’s warning that feed put out by residents did not necessarily suit the birds’ diet and could cause health problems.
“For example, sunflower seeds are high in oil and can lead to similar problems to us if we have a high fat diet,” he said.
Ms Johnston concluded that residents wishing to attract the birds should find alternative means.
“They should leave water out and plant indigenous plants so they can feed on their natural flora.
“I love my wildlife in the Hills – it’s one of the pleasures of being up here.
“I just want people to stop feeding the cockatoos because it’s not right for the environment and not right for my windows,” she said.