The City of Greater Bendigo has announced it will move on the ibis that have made a small island on Lake Weeroona their home when their breeding season is over in April.
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The city’s parks and natural reserves manager Debbie Wood said the birds currently nesting on the island were protected Australian white ibis, meaning the eviction had to be conducted in accordance with the Wildlife Act.
“Australian white ibis nest in large colonies and can rear one or two broods in a year. Their chicks are born naked and helpless,” she said.
“The ibis at Lake Weeroona are nesting and there are currently a large number of eggs, chicks and fledglings located on the island.”
The move comes after residents described the conditions caused by the birds as “disgraceful,” complaining of unpleasant smells, excessive noise, and mess.
But Ms Wood said city staff could not legally move the birds on without a permit and the city was working with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to sustainably manage native bird populations at the lake.
“To avoid harming this protected species during the breeding season the city will wait until the season has finished in April before moving the birds on,” she said.
“This species of ibis family is a wading bird that is found across much of Australia. Their preferred habitats include swamps, lagoons, floodplains and grasslands but they sometimes inhabit urban parks, gardens and water bodies which can be challenging to manage.”
Bendigo Wildlife Information Network president Lynne Waller said the Bendigo-based group was not opposed to the council moving the ibis on as long it was done “in a compassionate way”.
“I would not be opposed to it as long as the birds’ welfare is being looked after and they’re not just being gung-hoed out of there,” she said.
“They’ll have to make sure all the babies are gone, make sure everything’s gone and it needs to be assessed by DELWP.”
Ms Wood said rather than physically relocating the ibis, the process for removing the birds would involve providing temporary pedestrian access to the island to encourage them to move on of their own accord.
“The ibis will be moved on by having activity on the island,” she said.
“The city will also install temporary access to the island and remove some vegetation to make the island less desirable and to move the ibis on.”
