Love this shot by Bill Belson:
"Osprey at Separation Point trying to keep cool in [Monday's] heat. Sitting with wings slightly raised near the waters edge."
If you have an image you'd like to share with the community send it in to geraldton@justeverything.com.au
"Geraldton Dog Rescue would sincerely like to thank everyone involved in the care of Demi over the last 4 month. The Geraldton Ranger services, Chapman Animal Hospital, Sanford Vet Clinic, Midwest Vet clinic, Jo from Dirty Dog Busters, GDR foster carers Jenny and Melody and most of all, the Geraldton Community for your well wishes, donations and support xxx
Demi was finalised today and became Miss Demi Schofield.
Melody, Donnie, Coco (BF) and Dusty (Blue Heeler) are over the moon xxxx"
Deepdale residents are hopeful that they'll be able to deal with the large number of corellas in their area, after obtaining permits from Dept of Parks and Wildlife to conduct a small cull of the birds.
In January, City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ken Diehm said the amount of corellas in the City is estimated at 7500, half of last year’s population. He hailed a relocation program conducted by the city as a success. The Relocation Program uses a gas gun, firecrackers and a handheld device that fires percussion cartridges into the sky close to where the birds roost.
But some residents of Geraldton disputed the success of the program, claiming the birds had simply moved to other Geraldton suburbs, outside of the CBD.
We spoke with one local affected by the birds who said a few residents got together to discuss what they could do about the bird problem and investigate the matter. They applied to the Department of Parks and Wildlife for a permit to carry out a small cull on the birds. The Department confirmed that permits had been issued in the Deepdale area.
City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ken Diehm said regarding the culling of the birds,
“The control and management of native wildlife is a State Government responsibility dealt with under the umbrella of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. As per the Department of Parks and Wildlife website it is clear that each property owner is responsible for their own land. It is the decision of the individual land owner to obtain a permit to undertake culling of wildlife on their property. This is not a Local Government decision. In 2015 it was predicted that populations of Corellas were sitting at over 15,000 and this year and after the City’s recent relocation program the numbers have halved.”
Image: David Ford
In the past, the CGG has conducted its own culls on the corella population. But following complaints from some members of the public, they investigated an alternative way of moving the birds on.
While the city said the program was a success, in that it has stopped the tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to public infrastructure and valuable trees, some residents feel like the city should have just bit the bullet and used ... a bullet.
But even the more pleasant method of scaring the birds attracted complaints. EG received multiple complaints from irate members of the public who believed that even scaring the birds was a terrible idea.
What seems lost on most people complaining though is the amount of damage the birds do, and the fact that they're an introduced pest.
Nobody bats an eye at the hundreds of foxes, rabbits, cats, pigs and dogs the Shire of Chapman Valley talk about, very publicly, shooting each year. They even have competitions to see who can get the most kills, with prizes and cooked breakfasts.
Unless you're a vegan and have an underlying philosophy of never harming a living creature, I can't understand the complaints.
It seems quite odd for people to eat Chicken Treat for dinner, and then complain that a bird has been shot.
It doesn't seem to matter what the team at the City of Greater Geraldton does on this matter, one group or another are going to be up in arms. (No pun intended.)
It's nice to see a group of proactive residents take up the task of dealing with the birds, rather than just waiting for a government body to do it for them.
The birds in question are an introduced species, and are not native to this region, according to information from NACC. (See below.)
The City of Greater Geraldton will introduce a new method to relocate corellas from its CBD. The corellas that the...
Posted by Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) on Thursday, December 10, 2015
"Keep a eye out around the airport you might be lucky enough to see a wedge tail eagle having a cockatoo dinner like I did yesterday."- Lawrence Hillary
Posted by Everything Geraldton on Saturday, January 23, 2016
A curious canine checking out a shark in the shallows at Explosives on Friday, near Geraldton Western Australia. Thanks Donna for sending the video in.
Mid West Vet Centre has a very informative blog post up on the toxic "Sea Hare". If you take your dog to the beach it would pay to have a read.
Pic: Trees that have been stripped of their leaves in the CBD
The City of Greater Geraldton has put out a media release following a reduction in corella numbers throughout Geraldton.
Everything Geraldton has received a wide variety of comments on the program, from thanks that something has been done, to complaints over the cannons used to scare the birds. This is despite the fact that previous councils simply shot the birds.
It's worth keeping in mind that the species of corella that are being relocated are not actually native to this region, they are an introduced species.
The City of Greater Geraldton will introduce a new method to relocate corellas from its CBD. The corellas that the...
Posted by Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) on Thursday, December 10, 2015
Full press release follows
The Corella Relocation Program implemented over the past two years has been deemed a success with substantially fewer birds having returned to the City this summer.
City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ken Diehm said the amount of corellas in the City is estimated at 7500, half of last year’s population.
“Before we began the Corella Relocation Program last year approximately 15,000 birds, which had reached plague proportions, were causing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to public infrastructure, community assets and privately owned buildings and facilities,” he said.
“They also caused considerable damage to grassed surfaces at sporting clubs and stripped bare a number of trees in the CBD resulting in the trees dying and rate payers having to pay for their costly removal.”
To date, the Corella Relocation Program has used a gas gun, firecrackers and this year trialled a specialised handheld device that has fired more than 1900 percussion cartridges into the sky close to where the birds roost.
“All these methods have worked well to move on the Corellas without causing them harm which was important to the City and the community,” said Mr Diehm.
Geraldton Turf Club Manager David Wrensted said the program has been highly successful in deterring the birds from roosting at the racetrack.
“Before the City implemented the relocation program thousands of Corellas would roost overnight at the racetrack and nearby Geraldton Golf Club, moving them on has meant they have not moved into the CBD and surrounds the next day,” he said.
“This year the bird numbers have been dramatically reduced with only a few birds returning.
“In our opinion the program has been highly successful and we hope the City continues to implement it.”
The Corella Relocation Program has also proven to be a cost effective way of reducing Corella numbers, saving the community more than $100,000 in repairs to public infrastructure.
“Rangers already on patrol are carrying out the Program and considering the cost of the hand held device and percussion cartridges is only $5000, this program is highly cost effective and is here to stay,” Mr Diehm said.
Michael sent this video in to Everything Geraldton, saying he ran into this guy yesterday morning while fishing off Point Moore.
Such a beautiful creature.
Thanks to Steve Clarke and his son Korey for sending this in. The sharks hangs around the boat when they collect their pots. Enjoy!
David Ford shares his brilliant photography with a river theme this time.
Our Cats of the Month are available for $50 each to the right home. Meet Bubbles & Cherri
These two girls have been long timers with the Shelter, they are all beautiful and deserve their forever home! If you have a lot of room in your heart and home, then please contact us today to find out about these sweet girls.
They are both only $50 until the end of December 2015.
You can find more info about these ladies at the links below.
The adoption fee for our cats is $150 and kittens is $200, (with the exception of Cat of the Week) which includes microchip, sterilization, immunization, vet check, worm and flea treated. That is a huge saving on the vet work alone!
Mid West Cat Shelter Inc is a registered charity whose main objective is to rescue and re-home, lost abandoned and homeless cats and re-home them to responsible pet owners.
We promote sterilization and containment, for the wellbeing of your cat, your neighborhood and the environment.
If you would like to adopt any of our other cats or kittens, visit our website www.midwestcatshelter.com our Facebook page www.facebook.com/midwestcatshelter or phone 0487 193 244 to speak to a coordinator.
The City of Greater Geraldton is the first Council in WA to implement a new wildlife control method in a bid to protect public infrastructure and community assets.
This week, the City will introduce a new method to relocate corellas from our CBD and other hotspots where the birds are causing significant damage to buildings, sporting grounds, businesses and other community assets.
The City has acquired a specialised device which was made in New Zealand and is specifically designed for controlling wildlife in an extremely safe and effective way.
City of Greater Geraldton CEO Ken Diehm, said after much research, the City had found a new and safe way to relocate corellas.
“This issue has been a high priority for us and we have been looking into effective ways we can control the plague proportions and this method is safe and poses no threat to wildlife,” he said.
“The bottom line is that this exercise will not harm the birds but encourage them to relocate so they don’t continue to harm our local infrastructure.
“Previous methods used included a gas gun and firecrackers which have been effective but we are hoping this new method will build on the success of previous years,” he said.
The new handheld deterrent fires a percussion cartridge approximately 20 metres into the sky close and activates where the corellas are roosting. There are three different cartridges which omit different volumes and frequency of sounds in order to move the birds.
Every year corellas cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to our City with local sporting clubs and businesses often bearing the brunt of the costs, with wiring, seals, trees, sporting turfs and insulation being harmed.
“Controlling the numbers of corella proportions is actually a State Government responsibility, but the City has been forced to take action due to the enormous number of complaints from residents and businesses,” Mr Diehm said.
The strategic operation has been mapped out to pinpoint problem areas and City Rangers have been undertaking training to use the new device.
As part of the operation, Rangers will be stationed at different areas in the community with the intention to move them on each time they land.
The exercise will begin this week and is expected to take up to a month. Residents are advised not to be alarmed if they hear loud noises in their area.
PD Bucky prepping for the summer! Are you ready? Be burglar aware. Lock your house and cars.
PD Bucky prepping for the summer! Are you ready? Be burglar aware. Lock your house and cars #slowmo #chomp #uhoh #fb pic.twitter.com/YK6PyMEnkg
— Geraldton Police (@GeraldtonPol) December 7, 2015This older female dog was found in Wonthella today by City Rangers and they would love to find the owner.
If you know the owner or have information on this dog please contact the City Rangers on 9956 6600.
More great wildlife pictures from David Ford.
Geraldton Dog Rescue are holding a fundraiser movie night this Thursday night.
In the Heart of the Sea from 6:00pm at Orana Cinemas.
Tickets will be available to purchase at the Cinema (through Geraldton Dog Rescue only) for $30 each from 5:30pm to 6:00pm.
A representative from Geraldton Dog Rescue will be at the cinema from 5:30pm.
The tickets will be $30 each for cash door sales.
Otherwise, pay $27.50 online by Clicking here to book through Eventbrite.
David Ford took these amazing wildlife pictures and shared them with Everything Geraldton.
Other bird photography taken by David Ford.
If anyone has lost two pigs, they are in my yard please inbox and I will give you my address to pick them up. Waggrakine area.
Wanda - 0438 959 365
Did you know Geraldton is the largest breeder of Nemo fish?
Have a watch of this video from Chris Lewis from ABC Open.
These cats have been with the Shelter for a while and we would really love them to find a forever home. They are all only $100 until the end of October 2015.
You can find more info about these ladies at the links below.
The adoption fee for our cats is $150 and kittens is $200, (with the exception of Cat of the Week) which includes microchip, sterilization, immunization, vet check, worm and flea treated. That is a huge saving on the vet work alone!
Mid West Cat Shelter Inc is a registered charity whose main objective is to rescue and re-home, lost abandoned and homeless cats and re-home them to responsible pet owners.
We promote sterilization and containment, for the wellbeing of your cat, your neighborhood and the environment.
If you would like to adopt any of our other cats or kittens, visit our website www.midwestcatshelter.com our Facebook page www.facebook.com/midwestcatshelter or phone 0487 193 244 to speak to a coordinator.
"The last time a black-flanked rock wallaby was seen at Kalbarri National Park, 500 kilometres north of Perth, was in the mid-1990s."
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