The Corella Monitoring Program aims to better understand the behaviours of invasive corellas around Mandurah. These birds have significant impacts on the local environment and urban area, particularly on our unique native birds.
By participating in the program and recording your sightings of corellas, you can help to inform more targeted management to reduce the number of corellas and their impacts.
Record your sightings on the map below.
Birdlife WA is also looking for volunteers to conduct a corella count to better understand roosting and foraging areas and the impact of growing numbers on our local native bird species. RegisterContinue reading
The Corella Monitoring Program aims to better understand the behaviours of invasive corellas around Mandurah. These birds have significant impacts on the local environment and urban area, particularly on our unique native birds.
By participating in the program and recording your sightings of corellas, you can help to inform more targeted management to reduce the number of corellas and their impacts.
Record your sightings on the map below.
Birdlife WA is also looking for volunteers to conduct a corella count to better understand roosting and foraging areas and the impact of growing numbers on our local native bird species. Register your interest in the Corella Count.
We're working with surrounding councils to better understand their movement and the broader problem. We'll also be looking at working more closely with the community in the problem areas identified by your observations.
About corellas:
There are two species of introduced corellas in Southwest WA, the little corella (Cacatua sanguine) native to the Pilbara and Kimberly region and Eastern long-billed corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris) native to Eastern Australia. These birds seriously impact native plants and wildlife through excessive chewing on trees and competition for nesting hollows with owls, raptors, and threatened black cockatoos.
Corellas have become abundant in urban areas across Southwest WA as easy access to food and fresh water allows them to thrive. The City currently manages corellas but is aiming to update the techniques used by surveying their behaviours and sites visited.
How you can help:
Data collection is a key part of forming an effective management program. Community input will make a huge contribution to how the City understands the impacts corellas have on the local environment and community.
What should I record?
When submitting your observations provide the following information (if available):
- Location
- Approximate number or area covered
- Time of day
- Behaviour - roosting, feeding on grass, drinking, chewing buildings/infrastructure, chewing trees/vegetation, screeching
- Their impact - any damage or nuisance caused
How do I record my observations?
- Record sightings of corellas or damage on the map below - you can add comments and pictures
- Add comments, ask questions and discuss with other community members in the forum
- Want to record sightings on private property (without publishing the location on the map)? Contact the City at 9550 3777 or council@mandurah.wa.gov.au
If you'd like to learn more about corellas and identification, head to the Helpful Resources section.
Further Impacts
Corella behaviour can have significant impacts across the built and natural environment, such as:
- damaging vegetation, especially large native trees, where they roost and prune the foliage
- excessive noise caused by loud screeching particularly when large flocks gather
- chewing of infrastructure including light poles, wiring, solar panels, and aerials
- damaging sporting fields by feeding on grass and digging for bulbs.
Everyone has a part to play in shaping and nurturing Mandurah and participating in this program is a great way to get involved in looking after our environment and city for generations to come.
