What members of the public can do
To assist in the collection of information of rainbow lorikeets, please report to DPIRD when birds are seen for the first time in your area, what damage they are causing, and any large roosting sites observe (roosting sites can only be confirmed if birds are still present in trees after dark).
Even if you are not being directly affected by lorikeets, be supportive of local businesses in your area that are affected and mindful of the responsibilities placed on all landholders to manage the birds.
What fruit growers can do
Be aware of your legislative responsibilities to manage lorikeets and the fact there are management options available. To assist the local co-ordination of management activities, it is important that you report lorikeets on your properties when they are first seen and when they are damaging crops.
If you are planning to manage lorikeets on your property, please be sensitive to your neighbours and their lifestyles.
Providing your neighbours with copies of this article and other publications and discussing the pros and cons of various management options are good first steps that may help your neighbours to understand the need for what are sometimes noisy and visually-unpleasant management options.
Keeping lorikeets as pets
Many lorikeets are kept as pets in Western Australia. Several lorikeets with metal bands on their legs, showing they were being kept as pets, have been recovered from the wild in Perth and elsewhere in the south-west. To guard against escapes and releases, lorikeets should be maintained in secure double-door aviaries under DBCA licence. Unwanted birds should be surrendered, not released to the wild.
Further information
For further information on rainbow lorikeets and rainbow lorikeet control, contact the Pest and Disease Information Service, or the DBCA.