Dear Friends
As with many ecological problems, this is a very complex issue and simple
statements and solutions don't
do it justice.
With the introduced species, some have had a major impact on native species
while others have had a much
more limited impact. Foxes fall into the former category, House Sparrows,
Red Bishops, White-winged Widows,
(remember those?) into the latter.
While I understand the emotion behind the calls for trapping/shooting
Common Mynas I don't believe that they
will have any real impact on the species. A sustained campaign may reduce
numbers in a local area for a
while but as soon as it stops they will move back in again.
Look at the case of foxes. How many thousands/millions have been shot in
Australia (mainly for their pelts)?
Has the overall population decreased at all?
A local, intensive campaign may well eradicate a local population but it
won't be long before immigrants move back into the area again.
Remember that all these problem species produce more young than can survive
locally, as they are moved out of their natal
home range they are looking to establish their own little patch and any
vacant area will soon be colonised.
Unfortunately, I don't believe that Common Mynas will be controlled by
shooting (politically impossible) or by trapping, except
in a very limited area.
On a brighter note, a couple of years ago I visited a winter roost of
Common Mynas in a southern suburb of Brisbane and watched
as at least four Australian Hobbies were taking off mynas as they came in
to sleep.
Perhaps the answer is to breed up Hobbies.
Peter
At 10:51 AM 8/03/2006 +1100, you wrote:
I also have to dissagree with this sentiment. Introduced species such as
foxes, cats, Gambusia (the so called 'plague minnow') have far wider
impacts than logging / mining and even pollution. It is difficult to find
an area which has not been affected by these.
I can think of many animal species which have either become extinct or
had there numbers dramatically reduced by introduced predators (such as
foxes, cats and Gambusia), but cannot think of any for logging or mining.
Competition for hollows by mynas etc only makes the situation worse.
"And learn to love the bloody Mynas!"
No thanks
Graham Turner
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