How a bizarre plan to stop birds singing on a quiet street dramatically backfired: ‘It was ridiculous’
The sound of chirping birds outside a luxury retirement village sparked a wave of complaints and a bizarre plan to silence them.
Residents of Australian Unity’s Peninsula Grange, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, were outraged by the noise caused by a flock of Indian Myna birds nesting in 23 trees.
The property’s operators covered the tall trees with giant plastic wrap in December to keep the birds away and stop the noise.
Although the mesh was somewhat effective, residents subsequently complained that the ‘ugly’ black fabric ruined the appearance of the picturesque street and blocked out the sun, causing foliage to die.
The biggest problem, however, was that small native birds were trapped in the mesh.
The property’s operators covered the tall trees with giant plastic wrap (pictured) in December in an attempt to keep the birds away and stop the noise
Music to the ears or deafening pain? The singing of the Indian Myna birds affected the health and well-being of some residents
A 72-year-old resident told Daily Mail Australia the settlement was “disturbing”.
‘It’s all so ridiculous. Who would hang nets over the trees in the summer?’ said the resident.
‘And with black gauze? We had no rain, birds were trapped, there was no emergency plan. It was a stupid decision.’
Katrina Larsen, a visitor to the property, said she was shocked when she saw the new trees for the first time.
“Trees will attract birds and the birds still found a way in despite the nets being put up with what appeared to be heavy staples,” she said.
“The first time I went there after the nets went down, I saw a trapped bird in the very first tree I saw.”
The black nets were stretched over the trees in December and not taken down until the end of February. The hot months caused the leaves to die and then collect at the bottom of the nets
Australian Unity said in a statement it consulted with residents, bird control experts and wildlife management and control authorities, with the nets installed by professionals following Victorian regulations.
The mesh was installed as part of a trial period, which ended at the end of February and has since been removed.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment says on its website that Indian Mynas live in large, noisy groups and are attracted to neat lawns and manicured hedges.
Having a more ‘bushy’ garden will keep them away.
The ‘bizarre’ solution of covering 23 trees in plastic wrap to keep birds at bay was not only unsightly but dangerous for native birds that became trapped