Peter Assfalg

The recent restrictions on movement within Australia has resulted in considerable disruption to the conservation work undertaken by many firearms owners and users, including major Conservation and Wildlife Management programs being put on hiatus.

However, this does not affect certain conservation work that can be done from the convenience of your own home.

After attending an Indian myna bird (Acridotheres tristis) management workshop conducted at Ipswich, materials were purchased from Bunnings Warehouse to build traps. The Indian myna, one of only three birds listed, has been rated by the World Conservation Union as among the planet’s 100 most invasive species. It has been logged as an ‘extreme threat’ in Australia and was handed the unflattering honour of receiving the Pest of Australia award in the Wild Watch Quest for Pests 2005.

Completed Indian myna bird trap consisting of feeding and containment chambers (CIMAG)

The Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association https://www.aepma.com.au/ says: ‘Indian myna birds are accomplished scavengers, feeding on almost anything, including insects, fruits and vegetables, scraps, pets’ food and even fledgling sparrows.

‘They take over tree hollows and plug up nest sites they are not using, forcing possums and birds out and ejecting nestlings and eggs from their nests. Favoured nesting locations include the walls and ceilings of buildings, making these birds a nuisance to humans. Nests are quite messy and consist of a variety of materials such as leaves, grasses, feathers and assorted items of rubbish are common materials.’

Aggressive Indian myna bird

Indian myna birds are an economic problem because they damage fruit and grain crops plus their noise and smell can be annoying where they are in large numbers. They can also spread mites and have the potential to inflict disease to people and domestic animals.

Indian mynas become quite fearless if they are not hassled and can be a problem in outdoor eating areas by stealing food off plates. There are instances of them attacking people, but this is not common.

The imported nuisance is found along the east and south-east coasts of Australia. Introduced in Melbourne from south-east Asia between 1862 and 1872 to control caterpillars and other insects in market gardens, they established themselves quickly. In 1883, they were transported to Townsville and neighbouring sugarcane-growing areas in north Queensland to combat locusts and cane beetles with several other introductions occurring until the 1950s https://pestsmart.org.au/pestsmart-common-indian-myna/.

As they are feral birds, no permission is required to trap and dispose of them. However, obligations exist through relevant animal welfare legislation to treat and dispose of the birds humanely. Control methods would include destruction of nesting sites and installing proofing/deterrents. Products such as netting (bird net, wire or mesh) are used to exclude the species from an area. Bird spikes, wire coils, post and wire and electric systems can be employed to prevent Indian mynas from landing or roosting on building ledges and surfaces. Other methods include scare devices such as a combination of audio or visual deterrents.

Hints and tips for trapping

Indian mynas are intelligent birds. They will learn to avoid traps if they sense danger. So it is important to reduce the risk of them becoming trap wary, as they will pass that knowledge of danger onto others.

Accordingly, it is critical that these pests are never able to escape and certainly not released from the trap. Another tip is for people not to approach the trap during daytime if there is a bird captured. It may give an alarm call, warning other free-flyers that you and the trap are bad news.

The colour red seems to attract them, so I placed a red plastic container loaded with dog food, in the yard and put the unbaited trap in close proximity to create a familiar and unthreatening environment.

To my surprise on the first day a single Indian myna had entered the unbaited trap. By day two, I refilled the red bowl and baited the feeding and containment chambers, as eight Indian Myna birds were trapped. During the third day four pests succumbed to the lure of an easy meal. While the numbers captured may ebb and flow, I remain confident that an ongoing contribution can be made to protecting Australia’s fauna, even during restricted circumstances.