Arabic version: طيور اللوريكيت تجرّد بستاناً في تلال بيرث من محصول الكرز

According to ABC News, thousands of rainbow lorikeets stripped a Perth Hills orchard of its entire cherry crop over five days, leaving owner Linda Moore concerned that further losses could follow during the stone fruit season.

Moore said the orchard’s early cherries would not be available to customers. She said the birds had also eaten green cherries and hoped mid-season and late cherries might remain. The losses had already run into thousands of dollars, she said.

Rainbow lorikeets, native to Australia’s east coast, were introduced to Western Australia and are a declared pest there. Birdlife Australia program manager Tegan Douglas said the state’s current population stemmed from about 10 escaped or released birds in about 1968 and had grown too large to eradicate.

Douglas said authorities should focus on containment and management, including controlling or deterring birds around vulnerable crops. Options available to landholders include lethal control, lasers, loud noises and gas guns, though she noted the birds are adaptable and accustomed to bright lights, noise and people in the Perth metropolitan area.

Citrus growers have also reported damage. Bindoon blood orange grower Shane Kay estimated lorikeets had cost him up to 7 per cent of his crop during picking in July and August, or about $5,000 a hectare. He said orchard netting could help but costs roughly $60,000 a hectare. Moore said netting cherries was difficult because growers need access to trees four or five times a season, creating openings for lorikeets to enter.