Hello, welcome back to interview with the pest’s blog. Today we will be interviewing a species that has the top 100 of world’s most invasive species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or “IUCN”. It was introduced to Australia during 1862 to help combat plague locusts and cane beetles. We will be covering why they were introduced, their ecology, impact/threats to Australia and how are they controlled. Give a warm welcome to the Common Myna.
Myna: Hi, my name is Common Myna or “Myna” for short. I was introduced from India to Australia in 1862 to help the sugar cane industry fight back against the Plague Locusts and the Cane Beetle. I have continued to spread across the East and South East Coast of Australia since the 1862. My other name is Indian Myna (australianmuseum.net.au, 2020).
Q: So, what is your diet like in Australia? Is there a particular habitat you like?
Myna: I am a medium size bird around 25-26cm tall from head to tail with a brown plumage. I have a dark brown/black head with a yellow patch behind my eye and yellow bill, legs and feet. My tail tips are white, and I have a distinct strut/walk/hop.
I can live in savannah, plantations, agricultural land and urban habitats, but I prefer to stay near humans and their homes (dpi.nsw.gov.au, 2020). I feed on insects, fruit, seeds, pet food and other birds. My scientific name is (Acridotheres tristis). Below is a picture of what I look like (Brisbane.qld.gov.au, 2020).
Picture
by ebird.org
Myna: As I am in the top 100 worst invasive species list by the IUCN, I am a threat to native species and the farming industry. I attack native birds for territory and nesting space by working in pairs to drive the parents from the nest and kill their eggs/young so I can have the nest for my young. I cause damage to ripening fruit by feeding on them and I can carry diseases such as avian influenza and mites that can cause dermatitis in humans (pestsmart.org.au, 2020).
Q: Are there any biosecurity/control measure for you?
Myna: There is currently no major plan to control the spread of the Common Myna, but there are small steps that can be taken to make keep me out of people’s yards by removing palm trees as I like to nest in them, removing food scraps and water sources from yard and not feeding the bird. If there are already young birds in a nest in your yard, do not move or touch them as they may have parasites (Brisbane.qld.gov.au, 2020).
Next time, we will be covering two ant species that were introduced to Australia by arriving on transport and containers.
References
https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/birds/common-myna/
https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/natural-environment-and-water/biodiversity-in-brisbane/wildlife-in-brisbane/pest-animals-and-invasive-species/common-myna
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/vertebrate-pests/pest-animals-in-nsw/pest-birds/myna-birds
https://ebird.org/species/commyn
https://pestsmart.org.au/pestsmart-common-indian-myna/
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