Crackdown on Indian Myna

Successful trapping techniques and the impact of Indian Myna’s on native birds was strongly presented at local workshop.

Crackdown on Indian Myna

Successful trapping techniques and the impact of Indian Myna’s on native birds was strongly presented at local workshop.

Taking Action -

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The issue

Indian Myna’s are an introduced species that have taken to Australian environments fondly, however they come with a plethora of issues for native birds and primary producers. Not only do they evict other animals and birds from nests and hollows, they attack chicks of other species, scavenge stock feed, defecate on the backs of livestock, contaminate feed bins and leave a mess in their wake. Myna’s also come with a risk to human health as they are a haven for avian diseases such as psittacosis and salmonellosis, and are carriers of bird mite. Educating locals on an intimate level of how to identify, control and prevent the invasion of Indian Myna’s has been recognised as a major need in the GLENRAC area as sightings become more numerous.

The solution

On the 18th of May 2019 GLENRAC hosted a ‘Control the Invasive Indian Myna Bird’ workshop for farmers and locals. Guest speakers, Kevin and Laura Nobel from the Clarence Valley Conservation in Action Landcare gave an in-depth presentation on identification and control of Indian Myna’s, understanding successful trapping techniques and humane euthanasing methods, and the large impact Indian Myna’s have on native birds and environments. A demonstration of the Feral Scan app provided an invaluable resource to track sightings and control measures carried out, which can also be interfaced with other producer sightings in the area. Finally, the Landcare and Feral Fighters funding enabled the reprinting of the ‘Indian Myna Project Handbook’ available for free at the GLENRAC office.

The impact

This event resulted in a significant increase in knowledge and confidence to undertake control measures on the Indian Myna population. Before the event 50% of participants had little or no knowledge while after the event 80% had a lot and expert knowledge. Confidence had a shift from 40% having a little, to 60% of attendees having a lot of confidence in undertaking control measures. This workshop has enabled producers to effectively identify Myna’s by their brown body and black head, different to the native Noisy Myna with mottled grey. Indian Myna’s have white patches on the underside of the wings, notable when in flight, that Noisy Myna’s do not have. Participants now also understand the prolific breeding cycle and repelling homing habits and how to ensure new habitats don’t look welcoming to them.

Key facts

  • Myna’s will eat any feed including grains, pet food and will even scavenge through manure.
  • Myna’s nest in tree hollow’s, roof eves, and the dead fronds of palms and exotic trees.
  • Traps are available to borrow from the GLENRAC office or your local Landcare office.

Project Partners