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Indian Mynas - What can you do?

Crimson Rosella Photo: Lindy Quin Tilba Tilba

• Get involved in an Indian Myna eradication program. Contact the Tweed and Byron Indian Myna Project Officer on (02) 6670 2778 (Wednesday to Friday) or at indianmyna@tweed.nsw.gov.au;
• Please discuss control options and techniques with the Indian Myna Project Officer before trying to get rid of the birds. Indian Mynas learn extremely quickly.  One failed attempt to trap or shoot the birds can teach a whole flock to avoid traps or shooters;
• Limit access to food. Feed pets indoors, or clear away when they’ve finished.  Don’t leave compost or rubbish bins uncovered as Mynas like to scavenge;
• Make sure that Indian Mynas do not have access to feed intended for your livestock.  Where possible, feed livestock only as much as they need at the time, cover the feed bins and clean up any spills;
• Clear away food scraps after eating outdoors;
• Block holes in roofs or eaves to prevent Mynas from roosting or nesting – make sure you don’t accidentally trap a possum, bat or other native species;
• Plant native shrubs to reduce open grassy areas in gardens;
• Restore disturbed sites with native plant species that are local to your area.  As Indian Mynas thrive in a disturbed landscape, new subdivisions provide a prime opportunity for them to extend their range.  Restoring disturbed sites with native vegetation that is local to your area will assist in providing habitat more suited to native bird species than Indian Mynas; and
• If you use nesting boxes to encourage wildlife, try to use a nest box with a baffle or a backwards facing entry.  This will allow access to small possums, gliders, small bats and some native birds while excluding common Myna birds.