Introduction
Why manage rainbow lorikeets?
In Perth, rainbow lorikeets cause a variety of problems including:
- damage to backyard fruit crops
- fouling of outdoor areas and vehicles with droppings
- competition with other species for food and nest sites
- noise
- in the Swan Valley, lorikeets cause damage to commercial table and wine grape crops
- damage fruit in orchards in the Perth hills
- they are carriers of Psittacine beak and feather disease and pose a potential disease risk to wild and captive parrots.
What is the legal status of lorikeets?
Under legislation administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), rainbow lorikeets are declared pests in Western Australia, in all areas south of the Kimberley including the Perth metropolitan area. This means that private, municipal and state government landholders are responsible for control of lorikeets on their land.
In the southern parts of the State no lorikeets, including those captured or rescued, can be legally released back into the wild.
Under legislation administered by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), rainbow lorikeets in the south-west land division are the subject of an Acclimatised Fauna Notice, which recognises that lorikeets are native birds living in the wild as a result of being released, escaping or being the offspring of released or escaped birds. The notice also states that lorikeets can be shot on private land in the south-west land division, without the need for a Damage Licence from DBCA. The notice requires that no damage is to be caused to trees, and traps can only be used by persons licenced to do so under DBCA legislation.
Animal welfare
All lorikeet management activities must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2002, which requires that pest animals are handled and killed humanely. Only competent persons should undertake control activities, all other persons should seek veterinary or other expert assistance.