Myna Menace
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday September 20, 2005
THE Indian myna bird is the most unpopular feral animal in Australia, according to scientific and environmental groups.
They say myna birds are more despised than cane toads, rabbits and fire ants.Myna birds are often referred to as the "rats of the sky", and make the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species. The Central Coast Indian Myna Action Group has released a pamphlet describing how residents can fight this feral pest. Tips include: ensuring all food scraps and pet food bowls are cleared away and not accessible to mynas; blocking off cracks and holes in your roof and walls to prevent mynas from nesting in your house; avoiding feeding native birds, as mynas will come looking for dropped food; planting native trees to avoid mynas nesting in exotic trees and palms. The action group is conducting trials for successfully removing myna birds from urban areas using a humane trapping device. The results may decide the fate of the feral creatures. The Indian myna (acridotheres tristis) was originally from India and Southern China. It is a chocolate brown bird with a yellow beak that is commonly found looking for left over scraps of food and insects to eat.Mynas will eat almost anything, including other birds, their eggs, and small native mammals such as possums and sugar gliders.As with most pests, these birds were brought to Australia by people who meant well but didn't understand that they could get out of control. In 1982 they were deliberately brought from Afghanistan into Australia to kill insects in the Melbourne market gardens and were sent around the country to combat other pests. But now they are the pests.In India the birds were called farmers' friends because they ate insects that destroyed the farmers crops and were regarded as symbols of undying love.
© 2005 Newcastle Herald