Noisy corellas in search of food and water are wreaking havoc across Katherine as numbers swell.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They have already caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to lights at the Sportsground, and pecked out dangerous-sized holes in the oval.
Now, Power and Water's line crew, in charge of keeping the lights on, are reporting the birds are eating through the plastic protecting the power lines.
They are also getting caught on the high voltage system and shutting the power off.
"There are big flocks in Katherine and when two or three of them sit on the lines they can cause a lot of issues," Power and Water area manager Chris Horton said.
While the age-old story of animals, especially bats, getting caught out on power lines is no exception to Katherine, Power and Water has seen an increase in outages due to animals this year.
Last year, crews attended 26 animal related power outages.
This year, only six months in, there have already been 17.
Around the early 2000's, just a few years after the devastating flood, thousands of bats invaded Katherine South, leading to a mass removal of large native trees.
At the time, Power and Water installed specially-designed animal covers as a barrier.
"I wouldn't want to see an infestation like that again," Mr Horton said.
Corella flocks are notoriously difficult to move along.
In search of food and water, they can be seen in hundreds at the Sportsground most mornings.
The mischievous birds have been causing a ruckus as of late, as sport groups struggle to keep up with their destructive tendencies at the town's ovals, but it may be our own doing.
NT Parks and Wildlife ranger Chris Heydon said expanding towns encroach on their habitats.
"They might have been chased out of their areas because of human impact," he said.
"Katherine has expanded, there are more crops going in, more fires and so they might be seeking out a place in Katherine - like the well-watered, green grassy areas - for water and food."
It is not the first time Katherine has been host to an influx, but the issues seem to be more apparent this year.
"They love ripping things apart, chewing things is good for their beaks," Mr Horton said.
"They dig into the ground looking for seeds and carry on, they are a very smart bird."
Power and Water maintain about 7,000 kilometres of overhead lines, more than 3,000km of underground cable and some 37,500 poles and towers across the Territory.
To report hazards or damage to powerlines, people can phone Power and Water on 1800 245 090.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.