Augusta residents are urged to be on the lookout for unusual birds after the confirmed sighting of a Barbary dove in the Augusta town site.
Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officer David Hill said the bird was discovered in a Lilly Street resident’s backyard.
“The resident took a photo of the unusual bird and forwarded it to the department’s Pest and Disease Information Service where it was identified as the declared pest,” Mr Hill said.
Barbary doves have the potential to damage grain and horticultural crops, spread disease and compete with native birds for food and habitat. Their nesting and roosting behaviours are a nuisance and an added financial burden in urban areas.
They are considered a serious risk to environmental biodiversity as they have the potential to hybridise with other dove species.
Barbary doves are a medium-sized sandy or creamy buff bird, 29 to 30cm in length. The back of their neck has a distinctive narrow black half-collar.
Barbary doves are a declared pest in Western Australia. They have established populations in other states of Australia but are not normally found in Western Australia.
The department is asking Augusta residents and visitors to keep a lookout for the pest bird.
Any suspected sightings of Barbary doves in the Augusta area should be reported to the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Busselton office on (08) 9753 0308 or the Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881.
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