New jetty lights with spikes on them have been slammed for denying birds their “natural environment”.
Last month the Department of Transport — which manages the general public jetties on the Swan and Canning rivers — changed lights on the Como and Coode Street jetties with solar-powered lights which have massive spikes round them.
Long, needle-like rods are a standard methodology of chook management and are sometimes hooked up to ledges, lights and rooves to cease birds from perching and nesting.
South Perth resident Denise Lazenby mentioned she was “appalled” to see the brand new lights and needs a “consistent, integrated approach” from the State and native governments to handle and shield native birds.
She believed the spikes have been put in due to the “health and safety issue” of chook poo on mild technicians.
“As far as I know there has never been an incident where anybody’s slipped and fallen or that the bird poo on the jetty has posed as a danger,” Ms Lazenby mentioned.
“The wood on the jetty is quite rough so there’s plenty of grip; it’s not like it’s ice cream on marble which would make it slippery.
“I’ve honestly never ever considered that it (bird poo on the jetty) was a dangerous thing.
“Our pelicans are iconic and we love them, and most people I would say are confused or disappointed that such a silly decision was made.
“I haven’t spoken to anybody who thought it was a good idea.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport informed PerthNow the brand new lights have been designed to discourage roosting birds due to the pricey clear up of chook excrement.
“Alternative, additional structures on the jetties for birdlife were investigated but would not address the ongoing maintenance issues,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“Discussions are continuing about possible alternative options nearby.”
Native birds are identified to perch on the jetty lights, however Ms Lazenby believes the brand new spikes will stop apex predators corresponding to osprey from looking of their pure territory.
“If you put a spikey light, it means that it’s very difficult for it (an osprey) to feed its babies and young in the breeding season and because they have their own territory, they can’t just move somewhere else because they’ll be moving into somebody else’s territory,” she mentioned.
“So spiking the lights is really denying them access to their natural environment so that they can live their life in a natural way.”
“I would just like them to reassess the risk and the impact and take the ego out of it and just put their sensible hats on and go ‘OK, how can we fix this’.
“There either has got to be a different kind of light which can accommodate the birds as well as the lights, or we could just go ‘OK, maybe we’re going to have to clean the lights a little more often’”.
