Thousands of rainbow lorikeets have stripped a Perth Hills orchard of its cherries over the past five days, with the owner fearing more losses to come.
Birdlife WA says the pest population, which grew from about just 10 birds in 1968, is now too large to eradicate.
Birdlife WA says authorities need to focus on containment and management, as growers consider netting their orchards to protect the fruit.
A tiny flock of rainbow lorikeets introduced to WA in 1968 has bred into an almighty problem for growers across the south-west of the state — with their latest attack taking out all the cherries at a Perth Hills Orchard.
Over the past five days, Linda Moore watched helplessly as thousands of rainbow lorikeets took off her entire cherry crop.
"We're just letting our poor customers know that our early cherries just won't be there," Ms Moore told Mark Gibson on ABC Radio Perth.
"We're really hoping that we will still have mid cherries and late cherries. But these birds even got into green cherries. They absolutely destroy a cherry."
Not only has she already sustained thousands of dollars in losses, but she also fears this is only the start of the problem.
"This is just the beginning of stone fruit season, so it's only people with very early nectarines, apricots and…
