Just ask long-suffering residents in north Warrnambool who are woken at dawn and who have to shut their windows and doors on balmy summer evenings just to hear the television.

In Jenean Court, which has the area's only Norfolk Island pine, one resident was so frustrated from being constantly woken at 5.15am by her noisy feathered neighbours she rang the mayor at 8am to complain.

The next day workers turned up with a gas scare gun.

It had the desired effect in chasing the birds away for two days, but it didn't take long for them to return after realising the gun was gone.

Now residents of the court have sent a petition to the city council seeking some longer-term deterrent.

The council has two choices, either coax the birds to stay away from the old tree which has its top stripped bare by sharp beaks, or the more nasty alternative of netting and gassing them.

Previous incidents where council and wildlife officers have caught and humanely killed pesky corellas have produced howls of protest.

Complaints of corellas disturbing residential neighbourhoods, stripping heritage-listed pines or ripping up sporting ovals have been part of the Warrnambool and district scene for decades as drought in northern regions causes the birds to seek greener coastal feeding grounds.

However, several north Warrnambool residents told The Standard yesterday this summer's flocks were the noisiest they had encountered.

"Every day at dawn and dusk they fill the top of the Norfolk Island pine in our street," said long-time Jenean Court resident Greg Allison.

"They sleep in the Mortlake Road gum trees nearby.

"Our house has double glazing, but we have to shut the doors and windows to hear the TV. We've been her 12 years but this summer is the worst."