Corellas wreak havoc in Bunbury prompting council's call to report sightings
Corellas are flocking to gardens in Bunbury, causing noise and damage. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)
In short:
Corellas are damaging lights, sports grounds, and trees in the West Australian city of Bunbury.
The South West Football League says even footy sirens don't scare the birds.
What's next?
The City of Bunbury is urging residents to report sightings of the invasive pest.
Destructive flocks of corellas are out-smarting authorities and wreaking havoc in Western Australia's largest regional city.
In Bunbury, 170 kilometres south of Perth, little corellas are stripping trees, chewing on infrastructure and generally being a noisy nuisance.
Despite traps and noise guns in parks, the declared pests are thriving, including near the city's multi-million-dollar new football stadium.
The City of Bunbury is urging people to report sightings as it tries to manage the birds' numbers.
Corellas are roosting in large numbers in Bunbury. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)
Birds unfazed by football sirens
Sporting clubs, which have spent thousands of dollars to repair facilities, are growing increasingly frustrated.
South West Football League manager Jason Crowe said up to 400 corellas had returned to the city's major football stadium, Hands Oval.
"The siren doesn't faze them one iota,"he said.
"I've blown the siren, I've made clapping sounds and they do not move."
Corellas are stripping palm trees along the foreshore. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)
Mr Crowe said last year the birds chewed the cables for all the lights at the Carey Park Football Club's home ground of Kelly Park.
"So yes, they are rather destructive," he said.
More than $19.5 million was spent to redevelop Hands Oval in Bunbury. (ABC South West WA: Michael Philipps)
Mr Crowe said netting had been installed under the beams of the stadium at Hands Oval to stop the corellas nesting.
New lights also had covers on them, which were supposedly bird-resistant.
Corellas are causing noise and nuisance in Bunbury. (ABC News: Georgia Loney)
Calls for stronger action
The City of Bunbury said it was working to manage the impact of the corellas, including trapping and noise deterrents.
Mayor Jaysen Miguel urged residents to report the flocks' activities.
"More residents are calling for stronger action, and we're listening and taking action,"he said.
Corellas are wreaking havoc in Bunbury. (ABC News: Jacqueline Lynch)
Corella chaos returns
Corellas have long caused chaos across the South West.
In 2017, bird numbers were high and there were reports of them chewing the rubber sealing on windows in the city's distinctive Bunbury Tower.
In 2023, the problem was so severe former police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan was appointed to lead efforts to control them.
Lyn Richards is the night coordinator for the Australind Tennis Club, and said 10 years ago, the birds had destroyed the synthetic turf at the club.
Corellas are damaging infrastructure around sports ovals in Bunbury. (ABC News: Jacqueline Lynch )
Now, she said, they had returned, "with a vengeance", and were destroying the rubber around the lights on the courts.
"We can't even hear ourselves talk," Ms Richards said.
"It's like the juniors have come back to do what the parents were doing."
Corellas are stripping trees around the city. (ABC News: Jacqueline Lynch)