Both birds have
yellow beaks and eye surrounds, but whereas the Noisy Miner
has light grey mottled plumage, with yellow-olive patches
on their wings, the Common Myna is nearly uniform dark chocolate
brown.
What is the problem with
Common Mynas?
The Common Myna was introduced from India
into Melbourne in 1862, in an attempt to control insect pests.
Subsequent releases saw them established in areas such as
north Queensland in another unsuccessful attempt to control
sugar cane pests like Cane Beetles. Just like Cane Toads,
the experiment was a disaster. (These birds have actually
been called "Flying Cane Toads")
Mynas have now become common in many areas
around the east coast, particularly in city, town, and rural
environment. In the ACT and some other places Mynas have now
invaded woodland habitat as well. They are both an economic
threat to grain and fruit crops, and in some areas an increasingly
major threat to biodiversity.
Mynas nest in tree hollows, competing with
native birds and mammals for an ever dwindling supply of real
estate. But, these birds do not just compete - they are very,
very aggressive, fighting for hollows with birds such as Rosellas,
destroying both eggs and chicks, effectively stopping them
from breeding. Sometimes these birds will not even bother
to deal with chicks already in the nest - they will simply
build another nest right on top of the living nestlings.
Mynas also evict small mammals like Sugar
Gliders from hollows - which can often mean a death sentence
for the little Gliders, who simply have nowhere else to go.
It appears that our only native bird capable
of fighting 'fire with fire' with these invaders is the Rainbow
Lorikeet. (Anyone who has ever handled a wild Rainbow can
probably understand why)
What can we do?
If you've built, or are planning to build
one of the nestboxes from our factsheets, and you live in
an area with resident Mynas, you will need to construct a
Myna baffle (plan below). These baffles appear to work for
two reasons:
- Common Mynas it seems, do not like entering or exiting
holes that they cannot see directly into, or out of.
- The 'hood' does not give them anywhere to comfortably
perch whilst checking the box out.
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