In Perth, rainbow lorikeets cause a variety of problems, including:
damage to backyard fruit crops
fouling of outdoor areas and vehicles with droppings
competition with other species for food and nest sites
noise
The correct maintenance of palm trees can reduce breeding opportunities for introduced rainbow lorikeets.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has identified palm trees as important breeding habitat for rainbow lorikeets. During the breeding season individual palm trees often have multiple pairs of these birds nesting in behind the old leaf bases. By simply cutting away any old leaf bases, leaving just the trunk to the crown, this breeding habitat can be removed.
This is an effective, non-lethal and pro-active action that land managers can carry out to help limit the impact that rainbow lorikeets have on our native wildlife, and also on fruit growers. As a humane measure, pruning should be done outside the rainbow lorikeet breeding period (which is from September to November) to avoid destroying active nests.
Land managers in the Perth metropolitan area are encouraged to maintain palm trees on their properties in this manner to reduce the breeding opportunities for rainbow lorikeets.