Indian Mynas can also evict small mammals like The Indian Myna Sugar Gliders from hollows. This usually means a Deny Mynas feeding opportunities death sentence for the gliders because they have The Indian Myna is native to and Southern nowhere else to go. Indian Mynas are China. It was introduced into in 1862 to opportunistic feeders. control pests Ensure that food in Melbourne market Correctly identify the Indian scraps, PET FOOD and gardens. In 1883 it other food such as was taken to North Myna livestock and poultry Queensland, where it feed are not was thought it would The introduced accessible to Mynas. control insect pests Indian Myna is of sugar cane. sometimes confused with Avoid feeding native as Colonies establish in urban areas, where food is the Australian Mynas will come looking for plentiful and, from there, invade the surrounding native Noisy countryside to the detriment of our native fauna. Miner. dropped pieces

Indian Mynas are most often seen strutting around Indian Mynas breed mainly in tree hollows, palms Most experts agree that the ground looking for food scraps generally in and under roofs. Anecdotal information suggests it is not good practice places where humans gather and eat. School they reduce biodiversity by competing with our to feed native birds as grounds, shopping centres, fast food outlets, native species for nesting hollows, destroying their it can harm their health outdoor eating areas, industrial areas, waste eggs and killing their chicks to commandeer nesting when fed unsuitable depots and BACKYARDS are some of their favourite places. food, impacts on their haunts. ability to forage for

It takes a minimum of 100 years for tree hollows to food, changes their behaviour and increases They gather noisily in large numbers to roost form. Because of this and the ongoing clearing of aggression, they suffer with hunger if you move or (sleep), usually in trees and palms, and on rural and urban land, competition from the Indian go on holidays, and it impacts on natural selection - structures such as bridges. Myna for these limited hollows adds to the just to name a few reasons! Now there is another difficulties native reason to avoid this practice. Trying to feed the face. Noisy Miner native birds only encourages and nurtures the Mynas, making them stronger, to breed faster and Indian Mynas breed The Noisy Miner is kill more of our native birds. from October to an Australian March, mate for life native and, as such and can breed more is protected. than once a season. “Log on to www.birdsinbackyards.net and The large nests they build usually rot after they’re It is a honey eater find out what you can do to help with the vacated, making that tree hollow unusable by our and feeds on native conservation of native birds in your native birds. flowering plants. backyard.”

They also build dummy nests in adjacent hollows to protect a breeding territory.

Hawkesbury Community Indian Myna Action Deny Mynas breeding and roosting Group - HIMAG opportunities INDIAN MYNA HIMAG is a coordinated community project to Block off holes in roofs and eaves to prevent Mynas improve the biodiversity of the Hawkesbury area nesting in your home. through community education and humane control BIRDS of Indian Myna Birds. To an Indian Myna there is Hawkesbury now has several volunteer Actions to Protect our Native not much coordinators for most towns and villages to assist difference with coordinating trapping activities. Contact Wildlife between a tree Council's Bushcare Officer on 4560 4444 to obtain hollow and a the details of the coordinator in your area. hole in your eaves. If they An educative approach is needed to encourage the do build a nest community to take action and share ideas learned in your roof, not only is it helping increase their from observation, research and trapping. population but it puts your health at risk from a mite invasion. • Network and share solutions with your neighbours to raise awareness about our environment

Plant natives to prevent Mynas • Log on to www.birdsinbackyards.net and find out what you can do to help with the breeding and roosting in exotic conservation of native birds in your trees and palms backyard. Participate in the Hawkesbury Indian Myna Action Group. Indian Mynas love non-native palm trees and other • Keep up with the latest research and innovations by accessing websites about exotics, it appears, because they offer more closed in Myna birds. Available by going to: protection from potential predators than the more Project facilitated by: open nature of Australian natives. Planting natives http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/enviro including more understorey for small native birds such nmental-services/natural- as blue wrens, also encourages native birds and environment/indian-myna-control-program- prevents Mynas from establishing dominance in an himag area.

Acknowledgements:

Central Coast Indian Myna Action Group Inc., Kiama Municipal Council and Shoalhaven City Council for assistance with images and information.