Topic also on Envirotalk with links,
http://www.envirotalk.com.au/forum/index.php?showtopic=626
or
http://tinyurl.com/6m2c9
Joint Media Release
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell
&
Member for Leichhardt
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry,
Tourism and Resources
The Hon Warren Entsch MP
6 July 2005
C183/05 -
http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2005/mr06jul05.html
Indian Myna bird trial in Cairns
Found in almost every garden up and down the east
coast of Australia playing havoc with native wildlife,
the Common Indian Myna bird's days may be numbered
thanks to a new trial in Cairns to reduce the numbers
of the introduced pest.
Funded by the Australian Government's Natural Heritage
Trust, the $130,000 trial was announced today by
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell and Member for Leichhardt, Mr
Warren Entsch.
Senator Campbell said the project, to be undertaken by
Australian National University researcher Dr Chris
Tidemann with support from Cairns City Council and the
Australian Rainforest Foundation, could have national
long-term benefits in the control of Mynas and other
invasive pest birds.
"Dr Tidemann has developed a possible means that could
result in the Indian Myna being trapped effectively
and humanely. This has implications for controlling
the spread of other invasive pests, like the closely
related European Starling," Senator Campbell said.
"The Indian Myna has devastating effects on native
wildlife. They take over nesting hollows, destroy eggs
and chicks, and stop native birds like rosellas and
kookaburras from breeding. They are capable of
evicting even large birds, such as Dollar Birds, from
their nests. And groups of them have been known to mob
small mammals like possums.
"Dr Tidemann's work is encouraging and the project
could have potentially far-reaching results.
"This strategic investment should have broader
implications in helping to control the problem of pest
species in Australia."
Mr Entsch said there was strong community support for
the project.
"Many conservation and environment groups have
expressed support for reducing myna numbers, including
Birds Australia and Birds Queensland," Mr Entsch said.
"In the year 2000 Common Indian Mynas were the most
commonly recorded feral bird in Canberra. At the same
time, the Common Indian Myna was listed by the World
Conservation Union as one of the world's 100 worst
invasive species.
"The Indian Myna is becoming a bigger problem in
eastern Australia, with evidence indicating that north
of the ACT the Common Indian Mynas are spreading into
habitat occupied by the threatened Superb Parrot.
"So this project has national, long-term benefits and
we all look forward to seeing it get underway."
For more information about the Natural Heritage Trust
visit www.nht.gov.au
Media contacts:
Senator Campbell ? Marianne McCabe (02) 6277 7640 or
0400 389 580
Mr Entsch ? Sarah Massey (07) 4051 2220
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