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Febriary 2004. The Indian mynah has become a menace and a threat to many of our native bird species in Vanuatu, and I might add, the Pacific nations at large. A low-cost and effective control methods was requested.
The Australian National University, Canberra is looking at ways to reduce mynahs numbers (“Minimizing Mynas Project”). It relies upon a trap into which the mynahs, but not others Australian bird species can access and a judas bird, that is an Indian mynah bird, above the trap. The trapped birds are then gassed. It is understood the project is trapping mynahs in Samoa.
This issue has also been running as a topic on the Envirotalk forum (to see topic, www.envirotalk.com.au/forum/index.php.
It was also reported that trials are being undertaken in New Zealand. There is considerable interest in several countries in mynah projects. The issue that needs to be addressed is that of control versus eradication – as with many low density pests, it is very difficult to totally remove them, but if you don’t they re-invade. So is it worth going for eradication – at least with mynahs.
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