What is being done to control What is the Canberra Indian Myna Indian Mynas in Canberra? Action Group Inc?

Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc. has The Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc. developed a number of strategies to tackle these (CIMAG) is a non-profi t community action group Indian Myna introduced pests. that has the aim of protecting our native birds and mammals from the threat posed by the These include: the introduced Indian Myna (or Common Myna) • raising public awareness that mynas are in the Canberra region. an environmental and health threat, not just fl ying cane toad a nuisance If you want to know more or participate in CIMAG activities contact CIMAG: • provide community information on how to reduce their feeding, roosting and breeding T: 02 6231 7461 opportunities, and E: [email protected] • a trapping program. W: www.indianmynaaction.org.au The trapping program – endorsed by the RSPCA and the ACT Government – has been successful in removing over 16,000 mynas from around Canberra gardens in just two years. ‘You can have native birds The Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc. works with a number of community groups in or Indian Mynas – but not both.’ other areas and with researchers at the Australian Ian Fraser – local naturalist and National University, to better understand the 2006 Natural History Medallion winner impacts of mynas and how to best reduce their numbers. Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc. is also working on strategies to reduce Indian Myna numbers in horse paddocks and nature reserves, as well as urban areas including Publicity material made possible by grant monies shopping centres and schools where large received from the ACT Government and the numbers of mynas forage and roost. Australian Federal Government.

Please do not interfere with any traps that you might see in people’s Why is this bird bad news yards. They are doing something very for Australia’s native birds important for our environment. and small mammals? Canberra Indian Myna Action Group Inc.

CIMAG0608 Why is the Indian Myna •Where did they come from? What can I do about them? such a problem? Indian Mynas occur naturally in southern Asia. You can help by taking the following steps to limit The World Conservation Union has included They have been introduced into South Africa, food and nesting sites: the Indian Myna in the list of the 100 most invading North America, the Middle East, Australia species in the world and they have been described and New Zealand. Don’t feed them. as an extreme threat to Australia. Clear away food scraps Indian Mynas were brought into Melbourne market when eating outdoors. Indian Mynas arrived in Canberra in 1968, gardens in the 1860s to keep down insects. They when a misguided person released some birds were then taken to Cairns and other places in far he bought from Sydney because he missed hearing north Queensland to control insects in cane fi elds. their call. They failed to control insect pests! Feed pets indoors, It is now estimated that there are some 250 They adapt easily to human, urban and rural or clear away when Indian Mynas per square kilometre in the urban landscapes. Intelligent and aggressive, Mynas are they’ve fi nished. area of Canberra. now often the predominant bird in urban areas This is a 150,000 feral population, out-competing all along the east coast of Australia. Block holes in roofs or eaves to prevent Mynas our native birds and arboreal mammals for nesting What do they look like? sites, preying on eggs, chicks and mammal young. from nesting – make sure you don’t accidentally Indian Mynas: imprison a possum, bat • are noisy, aggressive and not afraid of humans or other native animal. • during breeding season, take over nesting hollows, harassing and evicting native birds and animals which use the hollows Avoid planting trees with dense • kill the chicks of other birds or destroy their eggs foliage (such as pencil pines) which Mynas will use for roosting at night. • block the entries to hollows, causing the Plant more shrubs to reduce open inhabitants to die of starvation, after which they areas in gardens. then lay their eggs in the hollow • can raise two broods of young every year, and spend their nights in noisy communal roosts. Indian Mynas: Indian mynas can create fi re risks in buildings On farms and rural • are medium sized chocolate brown with a black through making large scrappy nests in roofs from properties, feed stock head and neck sticks and any available rubbish they fi nd. only as much as they • are about 15 cm tall need, cover the feed They also hang around restaurants and cafes, • have a yellow beak, eye patch, feet and legs bins and clean up walking all over tables in search of scraps of food. any spills. They also forage in open rubbish bins – so it isn’t • have white wing patches which are obvious when hard to see the potential public health risk they pose. the birds are fl ying • strut rather than walk.