lovable larrikin or destructive pest?

There is a public meeting coming up next week (see below for details) to discuss the issue of Cockatoos. The cockatoos have been damaging people’s houses by chewing decks, window frames, doors and all manner of fittings, even the local childcare centre suffered when the cockatoos decided to make a meal of the play equipment.

I have no doubt that this behaviour is exacerbated by people feeding cockatoos. The DSE recognise the connection between feeding cockatoos which encourages the birds to stay in the area and cause all manner of destruction to timber fittings and furniture.

Feeding any wildlife results in a change of population which has consequences for other plants and animals in our area. The feeding of wildlife results in a dependence on food sources supplied by people rather than natural sources. A well developed and extensive education program is needed so people realise the consequences of feeding our wildlife.
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Cockatoos in their 'natural habitat' in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

However it is going to be very hard to convince residents to stop feeding cockatoos while the state sanctioned feeding of wildlife continues at Grants Picnic Ground (Sherbrooke Forest). I am told that there is a lease agreement in place to allow the feeding of wildlife, given what we now know, I wonder how long we can continue to tolerate this practice?

This is an issue I have been concerned about for some time (see blog 6 July 2006), but my efforts to address feeding wildlife in our national park has been an uphill battle with no end in sight to date. I welcome the opportunity to have yet another go at addressing this issue and congratulate Kaz McKay on her initiative.


Meeting Details:
Where: Burrinja, 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey
When: 7:00pm Thursday 12th June

Look forward to seeing you there.










When will we see an end to feeding of wildlife in our national park and the natural population balance restored?