At my place in Aranda Eastern Rosellas lost out to starlings for a nesting hollow about 20yrs ago. When the Indian Mynas arrived the starlings disappeared. When I trapped some of the mynas about 6yrs ago the Eastern and Crimson Rosellas moved back into the hollows as if nothing had happened but the starlings have not come back.
4yrs ago a Sugar Glider was observed eating an Eastern Rosella chick in the entrance of the nesting hollow. I was astonished. I had believed that Sugar Gliders
just ate nectar and sap but a check of HANZAB revealed that they have been known to eat a nestling. I haven’t had any rosellas nesting here since. I rather prefer the rosellas but feel lucky to have the Sugar Gliders.
Peter
From: Mark Clayton [
Sent: Saturday, 12 October 2013 7:02 PM
To: 'Peter Ormay'; 'Robin Eckermann';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Prime nesting site taken over
While it is easy to trap starlings when they are flocking it isn’t all that easy when the birds are nesting. What is needed is someone with a shotgun. Many years ago a former work colleague, and keen shooter, decided to see what could be done about starlings taking over an area for nesting in what is now some of the new northern suburbs in Gungahlin – in those days it was Wells Station. For several weeks he shot every starling that came to nest holes on a fairly large plot that he had selected. I’m not sure how many he culled (it was in the hundreds) but it took many years for the site to be recolonised by starlings. Obviously it would take a person licensed by both the local government and Police to undertake this.
I am sure we have all seen tree hollows used by native species taken over by mynas (which are just a big starling), starlings, feral bees etc. With older trees with hollows fast disappearing as the newer suburbs are built, then something drastic needs to be done to save those remaining for use by native species. If it means shooting then so be it! No doubt not everyone will agree with what I have stated but if you don’t agree, please come up with another solution, don’t just dismiss it out of hand!
Mark
We need an Indian myna trapper in the area. They also trap starlings.
Peter
Regular visitors to Campbell Park (CP) will probably recognise this hollow. For several years its been a nesting spot for Owlet Nightjars ... unfortunately Starlings have now taken over the spot.
I spotted 3 starling nests in the near vicinity - more than I've seen in other years. White-winged Trillers were also abundant this morning.
Robin Eckermann
