Indian Myna - Problems
A Local and Global Problem
Globally, Indian Mynas are a widely recognised as a serious threat to biodiversity. In 2000, the species was listed among 100 of the Worlds Most Alien Invasive Species by the World Conservation Union, alongside species such as the Fox, the Cane Toad and the Feral Pig.
The awareness of the Australian community is also rising about the impacts that the Indian Myna is having on our native fauna. During 2004, the Indian Myna was voted the Pest of Australia in the ABC WildWatch Australia survey.
Impacts on Biodiversity
The Indian Myna is a highly intelligent and aggressive bird that successfully competes with our native species for food and nesting sites. As Indian Mynas nest in hollows, the negative impacts from this species are particularly high on hollow-dependant mammals and birds.
Mammals
Indian Mynas evict small mammals, such as Sugar Gliders, from their hollows. As 42% of Australian mammals utilise tree hollows, the dominance of Indian Mynas in the use of tree hollows as a breeding site poses a serious threat to the future of a large percentage of our native mammal species. Once abandoned by Indian Mynas, hollows can be avoided by native species for a number of years.
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Eastern Rosella
Photo: Lindy Quin
Tilba Tilba
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Birds
Many Australian bird species are dependant on hollows for nest sites. This includes birds such as Rosellas, Lorikeets and Parrots, and many species listed as Threatened such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo and the Brown Treecreeper.
Tree hollows are now one of the most threatened of the nest types in Australia due to activities such as harvesting for fire wood, land-clearing for urban and agricultural development and ‘limb lopping’ of mature hollow-bearing trees in established urban areas (Birds Australia 2002).
When Indian Mynas colonise an area they dramatically reduce the number of nesting and roosting sites available to hollow-dependant birds. They are even known to move into hollows occupied by other bird species and destroy their eggs and chicks.
The Indian Myna is even capable of evicting large, more aggressive, birds such as Kookaburras and Dollar Birds from their nests.
Other Impacts
Other negative impacts of Indian Mynas include:
- Major damage to soft fruit crops such as Bananas and Papaya;
- Accumulated droppings, particularly under communal roost sites. These droppings are problematic for a number of reasons, not least because they pose a threat to human health and they are a source of nutrient enrichment to waterways;
- Building large untidy nests, using sticks, straw, feathers and rubbish, like scraps of paper and plastic, in roof spaces and cavities, which are a fire risk and an entry point for bird mites into houses. Bird mites bite, and they can cause asthma and hay fever if inhaled;
- Noise at night from communal roosts near residential areas;
- The potential to spread weed species. As Indian Mynas consume the fruits of exotic plant species they can assist in the spread of exotic weed species, such as Lantana; and
- Consuming feed intended for domestic pets and livestock.
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