Managing little corellas
In South Australia, little corellas are listed as an unprotected species under ‘Schedule 10 – Unprotected species’ of the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act).
There are a range of techniques that can be considered to manage little corellas and impacts they cause.
All management approaches must consider the welfare of the little corellas and follow relevant codes of practice, guidelines and permit conditions (where required).
This page will help you:
- Learn about the legal considerations of managing little corellas
- Discover non-lethal and lethal management techniques
We first considering low-intervention and non-lethal methods to manage little corella impacts before progressing to lethal methods. For top tips on managing little corellas with non-invasive techniques, see living with little corellas.
Long-billed corellas can be found foraging and roosting within flocks of little corellas, while sulphur-crested cockatoos are sometimes seen nearby, though not in the same flock. It is important to differentiate these birds, which are both protected species under the NPW Act.
Management approaches
Little corellas – like all cockatoos – are highly intelligent birds. Efforts to mitigate their impacts should be carefully planned, based on their behaviour and response to management strategies.
An integrated management program that uses a variety of techniques is strongly recommended. Management strategies should vary and incorporate persistent efforts.
Where possible, we encourage an integrated and coordinated management approach to little corella management across state and local governments, regional organisations, businesses, communities and private landholders.
Landowners are responsible for managing little corellas on their properties.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service and landscape boards are available to provide advice on managing little corellas.
Non-lethal management
Little corellas react to loud noises, where flocks lift off the ground or perches in response.
Persistent scaring efforts as little corellas attempt to land can discourage them from settling in a particular area.
Noise-emitting tools that may be used include:
- clapping boards
- stockwhip
- starter pistols
- sirens
- loud speakers
- gas guns
- firearms and pyrotechnics (where safe and legal to do so).
Little corellas are sensitive to bright light in the dark, and during dusk and dawn.
Visual deterrents such as bright flashing lights from torches or lasers* shone into their roosting sites are particularly effective.
Other visual deterrents that simulate predators, including scare eye balloons or raptor-shaped kites, are available on the market.
Little corellas quickly learn sights and sounds that are not associated with an actual threat, so the efficiency of these tools may reduce over time. As such, selective lethal management coupled with scaring stimuli can reinforce non-lethal management efforts.
*Note that in South Australia, laser pointers with an output greater than 1 milliwatt (mW) is a prohibited weapon. For more information, please refer to SAPOL’s website on Prohibited weapons, items and explosives.
Destroying little corellas
As little corellas are unprotected under the NPW Act, a permit is not required to destroy little corellas by shooting.
In accordance with the NPW Act, a permit is required where little corella destruction is planned with any means other than a firearm.
It is illegal to poison little corellas.
Selective local destruction of little corellas, when undertaken as part of an integrated management strategy with other scaring stimuli, can be effective in mitigating the impacts caused by little corellas.
Large-scale shooting of little corellas is impractical and ineffective, as it typically has minimal impact on their overall population size and is unlikely to reduce their impacts as other corellas “fill the void” in the area.
All shooting must be done in compliance with other requirements of the NPW Act, the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and other relevant legislation, including those governing the use of firearms.
The Code of practice for the humane destruction of birds by shooting in South Australia provides guidance on suitable firearm and ammunition combinations for shooting little corellas.
It is important to differentiate between little corella, long-billed corella and sulphur-crested cockatoo when destroying little corellas. Both the long-billed corella and sulphur-crested cockatoo are protected species in South Australia under the NPW Act.
Subject to training and accreditation, we may issue a Permit to Destroy Flocking Birds by Trapping and Carbon Dioxide Narcosis.
While this is a humane method of destruction when done accordance with the relevant Code of Practice, it is a complex and resource-intensive method. People considering destruction of the little corellas by this method should first contact DEW via wildlife@sa.gov.au to discuss their situation.
Refer to DEW’s webpage on Unprotected animal destruction permits for application details.
