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INDIAN MYNA CONFERENCE
On 13 May, the Canberra Indian Myna Action
Group, assisted by Commonwealth's Envirofund, sponsored an all
day conference in Nowra entitled "Towards Best Practice Indian Myna
Control"; a conference which will be a stimulus for much wider control of
mynas throughout NSW.
Around 80 delegates attended, representing 22
NSW councils, community & landcare groups, government agencies, and
universities. The conference provided the opportunity to inform delegates about
recent research on myna biology, ecology and control measures and to share
knowledge on low cost programs for myna control.
Initial papers presented included
an overview of mynas as an invasive species
(Prof Tony Peacock from the Invasive Animals CRC), research on trapping
and removal of mynas in the ACT (Kate Grarock - ANU PhD Scholar) and in
Blacktown Council area (Justine Clarke - Blacktown Council & Ricky Spencer -
University of Western Sydney).
Chris Tidemann (ANU researcher, well known to COG
members) presented papers on larger scale experimental trapping of mynas at
roost sites and trials on the use of carbon monoxide for euthanasia; work which
potentially offers a low cost, humane and practical solution for community
action.
John Yim (Sydney University vet student) reported
on initial research into whether mynas carry pathogens, which have
been killing native birds such as Tawny Frogmouths in the Sydney
region.
Several papers were delivered on the formation
and building of groups, co-operation with local governments, maintaining
enthusiasm, trap design and manufacture, trapping techniques and
euthanasia. Speakers were CIMAG's Bill Handke, Central Coast Group's
Matthew Whitehouse and Anna Hernell & Rod Simpson from Shoalhaven .
Tony Peacock demonstrated a new interactive
spacial mapping program (MynaScan) which (based on an existing program for
rabbits) might be used to record myna densities, roosting and nesting
sites.
The afternoon session involved discussions on ways
for councils and communities to work together, trapping and public education,
animal welfare, and constraints to more effective myna management. There was
enormous enthusiasm to move forward and to share ideas.
Councils are reacting to pressure from ratepayers
"to do something to control mynas", but have varied considerably in their
responses. Shoalhaven City Council has been outstanding in setting-up
and co-ordinating more than 30 voluntary groups throughout a large
local area and working with mens' sheds building traps. Other notable
reports came from the Bega Valley, where volunteers have so far excluded mynas
by targetting them along migration routes. An official
from SA attended to learn how the state government could
prevent mynas entering SA from westen Victoria. In Tamworth, the council
has been highly successful in trapping at the local tip, whilst at
Murrumbateman, Jaqui Stol and Chris Davey have been working effectively with the
Murrumbateman Landcare Group in the vineyards.
CIMAG will publish proceedings of the
conference and draft a "Best Practice Guide for Indian Myna Control" on which
participants at the conference will have an opportunity to comment.
Bill Handke & Bruce Lindenmayer
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