Mynas were introduced to control pest insects. Now they are the pest

Introduced to Australia in the 1860s to combat insect pests, the Indian common myna (Acridotheres tristis) has transformed into a formidable pest, posing a threat to native bird species. Characterized by its dark brown body, black head, and distinctive yellow features, the myna is now a common sight across the east coast of Australia.

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This is a highly invasive species, very aggressive to native birds.

Bill Hanke, president of the Canberra Indian Myna Action Group (CIMAG), described the species as "highly invasive" and "very aggressive to native birds." He explained that mynas compete fiercely for food and nesting sites, often destroying the eggs and chicks of native birds. This aggressive behavior impacts both large and small native birds, particularly those that nest in hollows, such as crimson and eastern rosellas, as well as smaller garden birds.

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When we first started, they were the third most common bird in Canberra, according to the local birdwatcher's weekly surveys. And within a dozen years or so, we had them down to the 24th most common.

CIMAG, established in 2006, has worked to raise awareness and implement control programs, including a backyard trap loan scheme. These efforts have involved over 3,000 households, leading to the removal of more than 80,000 birds. Hanke noted that their success in reducing the myna population in Canberra, from the third most common bird to the 24th, has unfortunately reversed, with numbers now back to being the tenth most common.

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There's a huge backlog of people wanting traps, and that's an indication that mynas are on the way back.

Hanke expressed disappointment that government support has "waned" since the Indian myna was declared a pest species in 2021. He believes a coordinated government control effort on public lands is crucial but has not materialized. A 2023 petition to the ACT government seeking more support, including control on public lands around schools and hospitals, reportedly went nowhere. ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna Bren Burkevics, however, stated that common mynas are not a priority.

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But it didn't happen, and it's a bit of a mystery.