Little Corellas have been causing big problems at Blue Lakes Sports Park, with users of the facility determined to deter the destructive bird.

Users of the sporting complex have taken a novel approach to the situation.

Roughly fashioned scarecrows have manned the fields in an attempt to keep the birds away from hallowed, or shall we say hollowed, turf.

Their presence is a seasonal disturbance during the summer months when they migrate to the South East in search of habitat, food and water.

If you want picturesque manicured lawns, they are definitely not your go-to landscape gardener.

They have a unique squawk and an appetite for digging up grubs, leaving terrain uneven and untidy.

These conditions are regarded as not ideal for summers sports including baseball, cricket, football and hockey.

Mount Gambier City Council’s City Infrastructure general manager Barbara Cernovskis said it was the African Black Beetle that has attracted the birds to the area.

The lawn grub is a food source for corellas, and in an attempt to meet their dietary needs, the birds must dig for the tasty delight.

A number of sporting clubs that use the complex have approached council about the disturbance and destruction.

At council’s first meeting for 2022, Ms Cernovskis reported on the issue in response to a question raised by Councillor Steven Perryman.

Cr Perryman asked what action was being taken by council to address the issue.

Ms Cernovskis said council had sprayed for the grubs in an attempt to remove the beetles before the birds arrived and hoped they would move on looking for food elsewhere.

Once the birds had discovered the beetles, they would keep pulling up the grass looking for the grubs.

“It’s about removing the food source before they get here,” Ms Cernovskis said.

Council would also change its mowing regime so the grass could develop longer roots to make pulling them out more difficult for the birds.

The corella issue is not unique to Blue Lake Sports Park or Mount Gambier.

It is a state-wide issue that has the attention of the Local Government Association (LGA), South Australian Regional Organisation of Councils (SAROC) and National Parks and Wildlife.

Though council has held discussions with National Parks and Wildlife Rangers about longer-term solutions, Ms Cernovskis said she has been advised there was no way to effectively deter the bird flock during this current season.

“Common practice is to use noise guns, scarecrows, culminate pepper spray.

“Most have been used in the past but the birds are becoming immune to that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Cernovskis said council was observing an experiment currently being undertaken by Murray Bridge Council.

In February last year SAROC sought expressions of interest from councils across the state interested in trialling habitat interventions for Little Corellas.

The Little Corellas habitat interventions program was taken up by councils at Murray Bridge and Roxby Downs.

“They are looking at an artificial way to relocate corellas.

“If there is a level of success with that, we will look to introduce at the sports park,” Ms Cernovskis said.

In the meantime, council has also assisted with putting sand onto the turf to tidy already damaged areas as well as further deter the corellas.

“We are doing the best we can at the moment,” Ms Cernovskis said.

The corellas have become such an issue that specific mention of the bird species has been made in SAROC’s 2021-22 Annual Business Plan.

The LGA has also developed a source of information for councils about how to responsibly deal with this over-abundant species.