A technical question about cockatoos.

**wally** · 16th December 2011, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by gusthedog

Unfortunately the only economical way to rid yourself of the problem is to get a permit and shoot them. As many have stated, all of the tricks eventually do not work - the cockey's will either get used to them or ignore them.

Again unfortunately, once you start controlling them, you have to keep controlling them - ie you have to do it each year from now on. You cannot shoot some and hope the others get the message. And you must do it each year they come through. This practice is used throughout Australia in many areas.

When I went to Uni back in 1999 and studied Parks at CSU, this was the message from the head lecturer in the science faculty. Unless some new research has shown otherwise, unfortunately it may be the only solution. I am not advocating animal cruelty and I have worked in the environmental field for over 10 years (for you nay sayers!).

Sometimes Agriculture and nature clash and sometimes agriculture wins.

No, the prevailing wisdom for reducing damage caused by these and most other pest animals in agricultural situations is to use an integrated approach. Shooting on its own will not work. What's generally advocated is to use various techniques of scaring and deterring, backed up by some shooting. I'm already doing some of these things, and now I'm looking for something that will keep them away from the pipe. I can tolerate the crop loss - I don't think it's significant anyway. It's the time involved in fixing damaged pipes that is the problem.

**wally** · 16th December 2011, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Basil135

If you string a single wire between the posts that are currently holding your poly, and then suspend the poly from the wire on hangers about 150 mm long, then the birds shouldn't be able to land on the poly.

If the wire is thin enough, they wont be able to grab it, and if at the right height, they wont be able to land on the poly either.

Yep, similar to the fishing line idea. It's worth thinking about. The pipe, though, is attached to the trunk of each tree, so the fishing line or wire would probably also have to be. Going from one tree to the next as it does, also means that the pipe is not dead straight.

**scarry** · 17th December 2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Basil135

If you string a single wire between the posts that are currently holding your poly, and then suspend the poly from the wire on hangers about 150 mm long, then the birds shouldn't be able to land on the poly.

If the wire is thin enough, they wont be able to grab it, and if at the right height, they wont be able to land on the poly either.

And if that doesn't work run another wire along the poly,and use the electric fence thingy,Therefore once they touch both wires,they will probably get tangled in them,they will get the shock.But it may have to be isolated every time you water,& of course before anyone goes near it.

They may learn quickly it is a no go zone,then you can leave the electric fence thing off.

At some of the sites we work at the use a metal strip that has heaps of kind of bristles coming out of it,to keep pidgeons off ledges.Seems to work well.If you could get some of it & attatch it to the top of the poly pipe,they would not be able to land on it.

Google Pigeon spikes & you will find them.
but you will need a lot to do 27k's.......!

**Blknight.aus** · 17th December 2011, 04:12 PM

applying the marine grease is easy....

grab a pneumatic grease gun put a nipple in the end of it and give it a squeeze...

want more range?

solder a ball inflation adaptor to the end of that grease nipple and run the grease gun on 110 psi...

the best bit is that they dont use that much air so a large precharged airtank will work nicely and a decent 12v compressor will stay in front of it as will one of the $90 supercheap 240v units.

**SuperMono** · 17th December 2011, 07:38 PM

Not going to be the solution for this particular case, but if you have a smaller set of Cockatoo problems (shredding your house and deck for an example) this could be an additional tool.

I bought a small remote control helicopter and chase them back to the control range of the 'whirlybird'. They don't like it and I think it is worth buying a more capable unit that can cope with a bit of breeze (and carry a weapons pack).
Only works while you are there, but is fun at the same time and you get to learn a new skill.

**wally** · 17th December 2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

applying the marine grease is easy....

grab a pneumatic grease gun put a nipple in the end of it and give it a squeeze...

want more range?

solder a ball inflation adaptor to the end of that grease nipple and run the grease gun on 110 psi...

the best bit is that they dont use that much air so a large precharged airtank will work nicely and a decent 12v compressor will stay in front of it as will one of the $90 supercheap 240v units.

Thanks Dave. I don't have a pneumatic grease gun but I can look into that.

**Blknight.aus** · 18th December 2011, 07:47 AM

FIT Pro Pneumatic Air Grease Gun / Greaser High Quality | eBay

Thats the same as the one that Ive had for about 10 years now,

only capable of semi auto fire, effective direct firing range individual 30m, as a section about 50m with indirect area saturation being out towards the 70M mark. you probably dont want to ask too many questions.

**blitz** · 18th December 2011, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by SuperMono

I bought a small remote control helicopter and chase them back to the control range of the 'whirlybird'. They don't like it and I think it is worth buying a more capable unit that can cope with a bit of breeze (and carry a weapons pack).
Only works while you are there, but is fun at the same time and you get to learn a new skill.

funny as I was reading the latest posts a remote control helicopter came to mind and I was going to say as such but you beat me to it.

it would still be rather time consuming but they are as noisey as hell very manuverable so you could use it to herd them off

**Chucaro** · 18th December 2011, 10:02 AM

Bird Netting is the best solution but big investment
100m roll 5m wide 16mm x 16mm 16kg $176 cost per meter $3.00

**Fluids** · 18th December 2011, 10:34 AM

Electric fence tape. Not wire. You've seen the stuff, looks like a 30m/100ft tape measure. Used around cattle yards, horse fences, strip grazing areas, etc.

From tree to tree, to keep it on/above the poly pipe, put loops/cable ties (something like an o-ring maybe) on/over/around the pipe, thread the tape through the loops and tension it between the trees, so it pulls upwards and sits just above the poly pipe.

They'll have to contact the tape before they contact the poly pipe when landing.

Any type of petroleum product applied to the pipe will progressivley wash off as you irrigate/when it rains and will contaminate the ground. Not good.

A shotgun works well, but you'll be repairing shot holes in the poly pipe all the time

POLY TAPE 400M X 12MM - ELECTRIC FENCE POLYTAPE WIRE | eBay

Fencing wire braid and tape | Fences, Australia, Standard, Fence, Hishock | Electric Fence Australia - online electric fencing

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