The big white birds have made a habit of munching on plants, perching on balconies and pulling rubbish out of bins.

Kerry Worth of Engadine is no stranger to cockatoos, with the birds constantly surrounding her home.

"They all congregate at a reserve opposite my unit and have become very territorial,'' Mrs Worth said.

"They start screeching early in the morning and the noise is deafening.''

Mrs Worth is not alone with her complaints, with neighbours in her unit block just as frustrated with the mischievous birds.

"It's driving the neighbours and I crazy, with the noise and the damage to our plants and flower beds,'' she said.

According to Holly Parsons from Birds Australia, cockatoos are becoming the most common parrot in Sydney.

The program manager for Birds in Backyards said one reason the birds came into the suburbs was people feeding them.

"They love the urban habitat, not only because of the natural food, but also for the supplementary foods,'' Dr Parsons said.

"Feeding them not only increases their numbers it increases the risk of spreading beak and feather disease among them.''

While cockatoos naturally ate seeds, Dr Parsons said they also scavenged through rubbish and dug into the fleshy roots of lawns.

"The birds are attracted to fruit and will break branches off trees to keep their beak in shape.''

One resident unfazed by cockatoo visits is Philippe Goriaux of Oyster Bay, who said if they ever became a pest he would simply chase them out.

"The cockatoos are doing what the gardener should be doing by trimming the branches,'' Mr Goriaux said.

"Their waste even works as good fertiliser for the garden.''

Dr Parsons encourages people to enjoy the birds' other side: "Behind all the mischief, [they] are actually quite charismatic and entertaining,'' she said.

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