Indian mynas, as the name suggests, come from Asia and were first brought to Australia in 1862 to control insects and caterpillars in market gardens in Melbourne.
Yet another misguided attempt at pest control that failed miserably.
As a species, they are extraordinarily adaptable and will thrive in many different environments. It’s a talent that has led to them being listed among the top 100 world’s worst invasive species by the World Conservation Union in 2000.
It’s often confused with the native noisy miner, but while the native bird is protected, the introduced species is not. An easy way to tell them apart is that the Indian, or common, myna has mostly brown plumage and the noisy miner is mostly grey.
While they look like perfectly innocent birds, you don’t want Indian mynas in your garden or even anywhere in your environment.
They aggressively defend their territory during the breeding season to the point of driving other birds out of the area. But they don’t just bully other birds, they will also kill chicks and destroy eggs and evict other mammals such as sugar gliders from their tree hollow nests.
They are also known to carry diseases such as avian malaria, which can kill other birds.
So, it’s agreed, we don’t want Indian mynas, but what to do about it?
Trapping
Well, depending on your level of squeamishness, the first thing to do is contact your local council or bush care group and see if they have a control program.
These usually involve the council providing traps to place around your property. When a bird is trapped it’s taken to a participating vet who euthanises it.
This has proven to be highly successful in many municipalities but needs constant vigilance as new populations move into the depopulated areas.
Reduce their food sources
First up, if you have a bird feeder you are going to have to cut that out.
Other food sources you will have to control are uneaten pet food left outside, open compost bins and any poultry or stock feed, if you need that sort of thing.
Also, ensure all rubbish bins are always closed and have a good seal.
Living on the edge
Making your garden or property unwelcome to Indian mynas is a good way to keep them under control.
Block any holes or nooks and crannies in your roof and eaves where mynas could nest. Also check your trees for nests and if you find blue eggs in a nest destroy the eggs and the nest.
Remove any berry-producing weeds such as privet, asparagus fern, ochna, African olive and camphor laurel.
Mynas are a bit fussy about where they like to hang out. They like tidy, well-manicured spaces such as open lawns with pruned hedges and shrubs.
Plant native trees in open areas to make your environment more unwelcome.
According to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, the best garden to deter mynas is a dense tree canopy and thick shrubbery.
And my personal tactic, every time you see a myna in the garden, spray it with a super soaker. Works like a charm.
Do you have Indian mynas in your garden? What is your strategy to keep them out of your environment? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: How often you need to clean your bird feeder