Mynas using woodland trees near the suburbs is not a new phenomenon. I remember groups of Mynas in woodland trees in the Snow Gums area in the Aranda Bushland and another south of the William Hovell Dr x Bindubi St intersection long before Myna trapping started in Aranda/Cook both about 1k from the nearest houses. I did not investigate if they were nesting but I suspect they were.
A couple of years ago I noticed Mynas flying from Kaleen across the Barton Hwy to a hollow branch in a tall euc in Gungahlin Hill NR at frequent intervals. I feel sure they were feeding young although I don’t remember hearing the young.
The Mynas in the Aranda Bushland and near the W’m Hovell Dr x Bindubi St intersection disappeared after the Myna trapping started in Aranda and Cook. My guess is that the Mynas at those sites returned to the suburbs once the population pressure there was lifted by the trapping. There is a PhD in sussing this out I think.
Re the Mynas at Strathnairn. About 10years ago a pair of Mynas turned up on Smiths Rd at least 15k south of the nearest Myna population in the Lanyon Market area. (There were non at Tharwa and still aren’t). I suspect that when Myna populations get high in urban areas some fly off (along roads?) searching for settlements further afield to settle in.
Peter
From: Rosemary Blemings [
Sent: Tuesday, 28 January 2014 5:41 PM
To: John Layton
Cc: Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Common Mynas in Holt backyard
With reference to John's Holt comments:
There's currently an active family group of Mynas at Strathnairn Homestead Gallery less than 2km to the west of Holt. Seven were taken from there by trapping but none have been targeted since, I believe.
It's very common driving along Drake Brockman Drive to the south of Higgins and Holt to see Mynas flying to and from the suburbs and the residual woody-grassland and paddocks south of Drake Brockman Dr. In other words the mynas are using tree hollows in the old paddock trees.
Rosemary
On 28/01/2014, at 12:23 PM, John Layton wrote:
Here’s my two bits worth re general observation of Common Mynas in & near our place.
A decade or so ago it wasn’t unusual to see flocks of 10 to 15, sometimes more. However for about the past four years we can go for several weeks and see nary a one, then groups of five or six will appear for a few days before another hiatus.
I somehow suspect observers in other areas of Holt and nearby suburbs may notice a different pattern. (Shrug.)
