Thousands and thousands of the birds have set up shop near Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake as well as near Numurkah and more broadly across the region.
Greater Shepparton City Council environment manager Sharon Terry said anecdotal evidence indicated higher numbers of the native birds around the lake than usual.
“They are causing some temporary damage to vegetation and trees along the river now but the trees will likely come back from this,” she said.
“Our native trees have adapted to losing leaves in a number of ways, such as being pruned by birds and bushfires.”
Ms Terry said all council could do was “accept that this is a natural occurrence, keep up to date with the latest research and be prepared to respond when they arrive each year”.
“They normally arrive in December and disperse in March.
“Council is used to dealing with them and has put in place what measures are open to us.”
Council said the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning was the responsible agency for wildlife, including reporting damage.
In March, State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed called on Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to release a strategy addressing the “plague” of corellas in Numurkah and the wider region.
A DELWP spokesperson said a strategy was expected to be released in the next few months.
“The strategy aims to reduce the impacts of corellas on communities and will be released shortly,” the spokesperson said.
“In large numbers they can create problems.
“Implementation of the 10-year strategy will improve communities’, landholders’ and land managers’ knowledge on how they can manage the impacts of corellas at place.”
Due to public safety concerns, limitations exist for lethal control in residential areas, according to DELWP.
A spokesperson from Fruit Growers Victoria said the increased presence of corellas is normally seen during drought years when the birds are looking for food.
“We have found that birds have an increased presence in the GV this season and not only corellas but also lorikeets,” the spokesperson said.
“(We are) not sure if reduced natural vegetation in NSW has pushed populations south.
“This just reiterates the need for netting to protect our crops.”
