Birds
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The practice of feeding native and wild Birds together with seagulls and other sea Birds is harmful to the Birds and creates an environment which is unsightly and potentially hazardous to public health. Apart from creating nuisance conditions such as noise and swooping, the accumulation of bird excreta in the neighbourhood can be a precursor to health issues such as psittacosis, property damage and slip hazards.
Native and Wild Birds
All native Birds are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and there are serious penalties for taking, harassing or injuring native wildlife. It is illegal to kill birds, destroy their nests or eggs without a permit or authority.
Department of Sustainability and Environment advises that the feeding of native and wild Birds is detrimental to their health and wellbeing and is to be discouraged.
Seagulls and other seabirds
Seagulls traditionally nest offshore; however in recent years have increasingly migrated to urban areas, such as the Frankston Cental Activities District (CAD). Seagulls are known to breed all year, but according to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) the peak breeding season occurs in Frankston from July to October each year.
The presence of seagulls in the Frankston CAD has a number of potential impacts, including:
- Blockage of gutters and flooding
- Corrosion of metal roofs
- Amenity issues involving unsightly fouling of roofs, cars, and work and recreation areas
- Creation of slip hazards
There are a number of preventative measures available to help reduce the
presence of seagulls, including:
- Removal of egg and nesting materials from roofs in accordance with DSE permit requirements
- Frightening seagulls with speakers creating sounds that imitate 'bird's of prey'
- Roof modification to remove potential nesting sites
- Exclusion with overhead line structures or nets.
A DSE representative with particular expertise in the behaviour of seagulls has advised most of these methods only provide a short term solution. The exception is the use of appropriately fitted netting or line structures to prevent access to rooftops by seagulls.
What not to do
A potential attraction for seagulls to the CAD area and large numbers of wild Birds in residential areas is the presence of a readily available food source.
- Constant feeding of Birds is detrimental to the Birds and creates many public health hazards
- The inappropriate storage of food waste by businesses located in the CAD encourages the nesting and feeding of seagulls.
Bird Swooping Season
As the managers of local parks and reserves, a key issue for many councils is public response to bird swooping season around August/September - particularly being contacted about removing 'nuisance birds' or seeking advice on what to do when there are swooping Birds in the area.
The Swooping Campaign
For the past nine years, The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has undertaken the 'swoop!' campaign to raise awareness of the safety messages surrounding bird swooping season. This year, we are taking a more technology-based approach to spread the message about avoiding bird swooping areas, using social media and free resources from their website.
In the past, resources have been available from Information Victoria for a small fee (including stickers, corflute signs and brochures). DSE through Information Victoria will no longer be selling these resources, in favour of providing them free of charge from The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) website.
The online 'Swoop Off' kit will include:
- Top 10 Tips to protect yourself from swoop attacks
- A set of printable 'eyes' to stick on the back of helmets or caps; and
- A 'Beware: Swooping Birds in the area' poster
Contact Us
For information on native bird feeding and permits for nest removal contact Department of Sustainability and Environment on 136 186. If you are after a pest control operator consult the Yellow pages.
For further information contact Environmental Health Officer (03) 9768 1317 or via e-mail correspondence@frankston.vic.gov.au.