06/07/2005 - Found in
almost every garden up and down the east coast
of Australia playing havoc with native wildlife,
the Common Indian Myna bird's days may be
numbered thanks to a new trial in Cairns to
reduce the numbers of the introduced pest.
Funded by the Australian Government's Natural
Heritage Trust, the $130,000 trial was announced
today by Australian Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell and Member
for Leichhardt, Mr Warren Entsch.
Senator Campbell said the project, to be
undertaken by Australian National University
researcher Dr Chris Tidemann with support
from Cairns City Council and the Australian
Rainforest Foundation, could have national
long-term benefits in the control of Mynas
and other invasive pest birds.
"Dr Tidemann has developed a possible
means that could result in the Indian Myna
being trapped effectively and humanely. This
has implications for controlling the spread
of other invasive pests, like the closely
related European Starling," Senator Campbell
said.
"The Indian Myna has devastating effects
on native wildlife. They take over nesting
hollows, destroy eggs and chicks, and stop
native birds like rosellas and kookaburras
from breeding. They are capable of evicting
even large birds, such as Dollar Birds, from
their nests. And groups of them have been
known to mob small mammals like possums.
"Dr Tidemann's work is encouraging and
the project could have potentially far-reaching
results.
"This strategic investment should have
broader implications in helping to control
the problem of pest species in Australia."
Mr Entsch said there was strong community
support for the project.
"Many conservation and environment groups
have expressed support for reducing myna numbers,
including Birds Australia and Birds Queensland,"
Mr Entsch said.
"In the year 2000 Common Indian Mynas
were the most commonly recorded feral bird
in Canberra. At the same time, the Common
Indian Myna was listed by the World Conservation
Union as one of the world's 100 worst invasive
species.
"The Indian Myna is becoming a bigger
problem in eastern Australia, with evidence
indicating that north of the ACT the Common
Indian Mynas are spreading into habitat occupied
by the threatened Superb Parrot.
"So this project has national, long-term
benefits and we all look forward to seeing
it get underway."
