by Tanya Steele
The ibis bird — commonly known as the ‘bin chicken’ — of Queens Park and the surrounds of Healesville Walk Shopping Centre have caused a stir recently, resulting in multiple complaints by residents.
The notorious birds have flocked around certain trees, park benches and footpaths, which are often getting quite heavily covered in animal droppings as a result.
Councillor Fiona McAllister raised concerns about the ibis during Yarra Ranges Council’s Tuesday 28 March council meeting.
“It has been an ongoing issue in terms of community impact, both in public places use and potential health risks,” she said.
“The issue precedes Covid and has been raised with me several times.”
The ibis have been seen on the Main Street and also moving down into other areas, causing issues towards the east end of town.
The ibis is a protected native animal and Cr McAllister acknowledged it was not a simple issue.
“It’s not an easy thing as they are a protected native species and in terms of relocation it is not an easy problem,” she said.
“The challenge has always been, what’s the best strategy to deal with it.”
The ibis have reportedly also been causing issues in other areas of the Yarra Ranges such as Lillydale Lake.
Cr Jim Child acknowledged and thanked Cr McAllister for broaching the avian affairs at the meeting.
“We’ve got the issue across a number of wards,” he said.
Healesville Action Group (HAG) has also contacted the council with issues and concerns about the bird populations at their March meeting.
“The birds are causing a lot of mess on footpaths and furniture across from the Healesville Walk shopping centre,” HAG president John Anwin said.
HAG initially raised this matter with the council in December 2019, when the issue was localised closer to the playground in Queens Park.
In June 2020, the council advised HAG some dead branches were removed from the tree where the ibis were roosting, but they would not be placing any advisory signs to ask visitors to refrain from leaving food scraps around or feeding the birds.
Cr McAllister said that a number of first line attempts to manage the issue have been put in place by the council.
“We’ve tried more regular cleaning and moving the bins,” she said.
On 6 April the council advised HAG its Sustainable Environment Team had been asked to investigate and respond to the problem.
Cr McAllister wants to develop a wildlife management plan, not just for Healesville but for ibis populations across the municipality, however this requires collaboration with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
“It is an issue, it’s an issue in Healesville and elsewhere and it needs to be looked at,” she said.
DEECA have been contacted for comment.
