Our Committee at present comprises a Biologist from Natural Resources and Environment Biosecurity, Invasive Species Division - Dr Sue Robinson, Mark Holdworth Consultant Wildlife Biologist, Dydee Mann Wildlife Protection Invasive Species Department, Jason Graham Avian Biologist and Convenor Lalani Hyatt Conservation and Land Management specialist.  

Background

Rainbow Lorikeets (RL) have been increasing in numbers throughout Northwest and Southern Tasmania since at least 2008 (NRE recorded sitings). Aviary escapes and intentional releases have resulted in the birds breeding and spreading across municipalities. They feed on flowering gums and ornamental shrubs and fruit trees throughout suburbs and parks, displacing native parrots and honey eaters. The RLs take over crucial feeding and nesting habitiat of the critically endangered Swift Parrot as well as that of numerous other endemic birds. The RL are interbreeding with our native Musk Lorikeets, which places at risk the gene pool of the Tasmanian Lorikeet. RLs also pose a huge threat to our agricultural sector. If flocks become large enough they will have a devastating effect on apple, pear and small fruit crops. 

Our Group Aims

Our group aims to remove as many RL from the Tasmanian environment as possible. We currently cover the south of the state, but hope that through promotion and community education we may be able to find support to run the program in other regions also. We would like to host talks and training workshops within the community to promote awareness of this pest species and the risks it poses to us all.

Our Work

Dr Sue Robinson has been liaising with volunteers in Kingborough and the Dodges Ferry area for over 5 years, trapping and euthanising RLs under licence from NRE Biosecurity. Sue works with Community members and other biologists and conservationists to this end. My background is as a Conservation and Land Management consultant, ex Parks and Wildlife Ranger in Charge of the Tarkine. I was disabed in a work place accident in 2007 and now work voluntarily with this group as project officer and admin. I also hold traps, cages and other equipment for dispersal to field volunteers.

Our field volunteers operate feed stations and traps, with our expert guidance and support. We work with people who have either contacted us directly through social media, word of mouth or who approach the NRE Invasive Species Division. These peope are seeing RL on their properties, in gardens etc and are happy to remove them. We provide traps and our custom designed remote closers so that they are abe to target the RL and close the trap at will. The birds are then collected by myself, Sue or another volunteer and (at this point in time) Sue undertakes the euthanising as the registered operator able to do so. We are looking at enabling myself and potentially another person from the committee to be trained and licenced to undertake this role. The reason being that Sue is extremely busy with her role in NRE and may not always be available when we need to euthanise birds. All of our actions are in compliance with relevant legislation and our volunteers are trained prior to operating a feed station and trap. 

A feed station basically comprises a bench/table on which chopped apple and/or pear is placed, along with sugar water, which is irresistible to RLs. When the birds become accustomed to coming and going a trap is placed on the table and they are given time to become comfortable with entering it to access feed. The operator can then watch the birds enter the trap from a distance, inside the house through the window or behind a hedge etc. They determine the opportune time to catch them, simply press a button and trap slams shut. We don't have an issue with catching other species of birds very often as the RL do not tolerate many others sharing their food source. If a native species is inadvertently trapped it will be removed by myself or Sue before the trap leaves the host property.