Cull call for galahs

Following action taken to cull the population of exotic corellas Cr Judy Jones would like the Department of Environment and Conservation to look at measures to control Bunbury’s pink and grey galah population.

‘‘It had been mentioned to me that the pink and grey galahs were also in plague proportions,’’ Cr Jones said.

‘‘Years ago if you saw a galah you would think someone’s pet had escaped.’’

The Bunbury City Council last week approved the trapping and killing of the exotic corellas which have been causing headaches for residents surrounding Horseshoe Lake for some time.

To date white corellas, which are not native to Bunbury, have damaged electrical cables, littered public open spaces and caused significant damage at the Bunbury Turf Club.

A DEC spokeswoman said the galah population was considered a ‘‘non-issue’’ as there were no more galahs in Bunbury than the rest of the South West.

The spokeswoman said it was not clear if the birds had migrated from northern parts of the State or had established a population after escaping from aviaries.

‘‘The corellas are considered more of a threat,’’ the spokeswoman said.

Galahs have known to be a nuisance by damaging trees and digging up roots for food on ovals and race tracks as well as chewing wiring and other household fittings.

The birds can also create a nuisance with their loud calls and have been observed excluding Carnaby’s black cockatoos from nesting hollows on several occasions.

Cr Jones said she would like the department to look at the species and if it had become overpopulated.

‘‘I don’t like seeing any wildlife being destroyed but I would like to see the department look at ways to manage the galah population,’’ she said.

‘‘The galahs have the potential to crowd out indigenous species.’’