Not Just A “Myna” Problem

The population of Indian Myna birds has grown significantly over the past few years and many locals are concerned about the impact this invasive pest is having on native wildlife.

Local nature lover Debra Burns has been following their rise in population for several years and she believes there are now over 3000 living in the region, compared to the 100 that Whitsunday Regional Council have listed in their Feral Animal Species Response Plan.

This plan allocates 10 days per year for Council staff to work on extermination efforts and Ms Burns believes they are not providing enough funding for traps needed to catch the birds.

She would like to see an Environment Levee put in place.

“They are the most invasive species in the world,” she said.

“The reason they are so dangerous is because it’s like the Hell’s Angels have moved in – they take your home and they kill your kids.

“I call them Hell’s Angels of the bird world because they take nests even if they don’t want them.”

Indian Myna Birds first came to Australia from Southeast Asia in the 1850s but it wasn’t until 2015 that they arrived in the Whitsundays.

Since then, their numbers have grown exponentially.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature declared the Indian Myna Bird as one of only three birds species in the world to be included among the world's 100 worst invasive species.

They are very dominant and are known to gang up on other smaller birds, often attacking in packs, destroying nests and breaking eggs.

“They are killing native wildlife in front of our eyes,” said Ms Burns.

“But the majority of the people in the Whitsundays would be blissfully unaware of what’s going on.”

Killing native birds, destroying nests, and overtaking large portions of scenic parkland, the Indian Myna Birds are aggressive and dominant.

They pair for life and can often produce up to 26 chicks a year.

Debra Burns runs the Whitsunday Indian Myna Action Group which currently has over 400 members who are mostly concerned residents witnessing an influx in their area.

Working to educate, inform and eradicate, Ms Burns says that she has been contacted many times and has personally funded 13 traps which have kindly been built by the local Men’s Sheds.

Recently, Council provided $1000 to fund 13 additional traps.

There are now almost 30 traps circulating in the area, but Ms Burns says residents need to act quickly.

“People notice the birds around their property and after a few weeks or a couple of months they've had enough and contact me for a cage,” she explains.

“By then it's too late and the birds have moved on. So, if you see them, and think you'd like to trap, please don't wait.”

A farmer in Bowen borrowed one trap and captured 134 birds in six weeks, but they are very smart creatures and are known to evade trapping measures.

Ms Burns believes more funding is required and the only solution is to reinstate the Environment Levee.

Back in 2006, a levee of $10 was given to every household.

“Just because we don’t like paying to protect our wildlife doesn’t mean we don’t have a responsibility as a community to protect it,” she said.

“We need an environment levee.”

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Naturelover Debra Burns says we need an Environment Levee to fund Myna Birderadication numbers. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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