Problems caused by waterbirds

• Exclude birds from dams or other small water bodies using overhead lines (fishing line) or netting. A solar pool cover will not only exclude ducks from domestic swimming pools, but will heat the pool to some extent.
• Use a 1 m high visual screen around a domestic swimming pool to inhibit ducks from using the pool. Hessian or shade cloth would be suitable materials to use.
• Plant crops away from lakes or other water bodies.
• Plant a decoy crop of rice, or place rice seconds or other grain at feeding stations set up near the swamps frequented by ducks, a week before planting the rice crop. If possible, avoid aerial sowing of rice.
• Plant strips of tall annual or perennial vegetation around crop or pasture to provide a visual screen which will create insecurity in the birds and should prevent further feeding in that paddock. In large paddocks it may be necessary to plant strips within the crop as well as on each side.
• Fence out wetland edges using sheep or cattle mesh, and promote the growth of tall grass, trees or shrubs in the fenced out strip.
• Scare birds immediately they appear in a crop or area where they are likely to cause problems, using a range of devices including Bird Frite cartridges, black plastic flags, scarecrows and bird hides to scare birds from areas where they are causing problems. A bird hide may be made of a light frame with hessian draped over it. If one occasionally waits inside a hide and frightens the birds when they are close, they will then be wary of it and it can be an effective scaring device, provided that it is moved to a new position frequently. Note that the use of gas guns and Bird-Frite cartridges may not be acceptable in built-up areas. Prior clearance from local Police and municipal authorities should be obtained before these devices are used in such situations.
• Move scaring devices frequently and vary the order in which they are used, to reduce the chance that the birds will habituate to these stimuli.
• Combine the playing of taped swan alarm calls with the use of other scaring devices to scare swans from areas where they are causing damage. Artificial swan wings made from tin or plastic, mounted on posts, can aid in deterring swans.
• Apply to DSE for permission to destroy a specified number of birds under the conditions of an Authority to Control Wildlife. Applications are available from the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.