The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has an ongoing monitoring and control program for rainbow lorikeets which are a declared pest in Western Australia.
The birds are a major agricultural pest, significantly damaging commercial table grape and orchard fruit crops, as well as vegetable and field crops.
Regional Biosecurity Coordinator Tim Stevens said it was timely during National Biosecurity Week to remind people to report any unusual suspect pest birds to the department.
Mr Stevens said rainbow lorikeets were already established in the Perth metropolitan area and it was important to protect local horticulture industries from the pest and prevent it establishing in the South West.
“DPIRD has been carrying out surveillance and control of rainbow lorikeets in the Australind -Leschenault area over the past 12 months and birds have recently been removed from both Australind and the Midway areas,” Mr Stevens said.
“Surveillance and control activities have also been ongoing in the Mandurah area for the past five years.
“Sightings have also been reported in Harvey, Waroona, Burekup, Dardanup, Capel, Bunbury, Boddington and Pinjarra in recent weeks.
“DPIRD will be stepping up surveillance and control activities across the region to manage rainbow lorikeets.
“South West residents are encouraged to report any sightings of unusual birds immediately to the department so biosecurity officers can follow up and determine if it is a rainbow lorikeet.”
Rainbow lorikeets are small bird about 30cm long with distinctive, colourful feathers and an orange beak. They spend most of their time in outer foliage of tall trees and they fly high and rarely go to the ground. The birds roost in very large, noisy groups and are constantly screeching and making chaotic noise while feeding.
More information is available from the DPIRD website www.agric.wa.gov.au
Sightings of unusual birds can be reported to DPIRD through the Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) on 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au and via the MyPestGuide Reporter app.
