Birds · City of Casey, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Mynas, swooping birds and cockatoos
The City of Casey calls the Indian myna a pest species that seriously threatens biodiversity and native wildlife, and says it may be trapped without a permit, as long as any bird caught is disposed of humanely within 24 hours. Native birds are a different matter: magpies, plovers, cockatoos, corellas and galahs are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and harassing or harming them without authorisation is against the law in Victoria.
A guide published by Dotto from City of Casey and Victorian Government pages. General information, not legal advice.
Four kinds of bird trouble
| Bird | How the source describes it | What the source suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Indian myna | A pest species | Take away its food; plant indigenous shrubs; trapping is allowed without a permit |
| Swooping magpies and plovers | Protected native birds; swooping is normal in the spring breeding season | Avoid swooping hotspots; cover your head and move past calmly |
| Cockatoos, corellas and galahs | Protected native birds | The state’s guidelines for reducing cockatoo damage |
| Backyard poultry | A possible neighbourhood nuisance through noise and odour | Keep within the council’s permit rules |
The Indian myna
The council’s page suggests discouraging mynas by removing what feeds them, such as pet food, open compost bins and bird feeders, and by planting indigenous shrubs, which attract native birds and deter mynas.
It also says mynas can be trapped without a permit, and points to a trapping guide from Landcare Victoria. Anyone who traps one must dispose of it humanely and must euthanise it within 24 hours of capture; the council notes that many vets can do this for free or for a small price.
The council’s trapping advice is about the Indian myna only. Native birds are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and the Victorian Government’s swooping birds page says “it is illegal to harass or harm native birds and other wildlife without authorisation”.
In February 2026 the council named invasive birds, with rabbits, foxes and feral cats, among the examples of priority pests for the Casey-wide Pest Animal Management Strategy it is developing. The same announcement said pigeons and urban birds are not currently listed as priority pests, because of limited local impact.
Swooping birds
The council explains that swooping is limited to a small share of birds, magpies and plovers among them, in the spring breeding season. Guarding their eggs, nests and chicks, they swoop to warn off anything they see as an intruder, whether a person, an animal or an object. The council regards this as normal for these birds. The Victorian Government notes that not all birds swoop, so a magpie in the area is not, on its own, a reason for concern.
Its ten tips, in short:
- Know the hotspotsLocal newspapers, Victoria’s swooping bird map and your council can tell you about parks, schoolyards and bike trails.
- Avoid the areaThe best protection is to stay out of the bird’s territory.
- Move calmly and quicklyIf you must pass through, don’t run.
- Cover your headPut on a hat, or hold a stick or umbrella up above your head. On a bike, wear a helmet, get off and walk through the area.
- Eyes at the backBirds may be less likely to swoop if they think they are being watched, so a pair of drawn eyes on the back of a hat or helmet may help.
- Leave the birds aloneInterfering with them or throwing stones may increase swooping.
- Leave the nest aloneDestroying a nest may prompt the birds to rebuild, prolonging the swooping.
- Don’t feed themIt may encourage swooping.
- Go in a groupWhere possible, travel together through swooping areas.
- Tell othersPut up warning signs, or ask your council to.
The Victorian Government’s swooping birds page says “land managers are responsible for managing risks caused by wildlife on their land”. DEECA also supplies swooping sign templates to councils, so contact your council if a swoop site needs signs.
Cockatoos, corellas and galahs
These birds are protected by the Wildlife Act 1975. For problems with them, including damage to property, the council points to the Victorian Government’s guidelines. Those guidelines describe the birds’ behaviour and the legal framework, explain why an integrated, planned approach promises the best results, and give practical ways to reduce damage in different situations.
Chickens and roosters
In the City of Casey, a property under 4,000 square metres may keep up to six chickens without a permit; roosters need a permit. Poultry must be housed in a secure, council-approved structure in line with the code of practice for poultry. The council takes reports of poultry kept without a permit or becoming a nuisance on 9705 5200.