Australians tying to remove Indian myna bird

Indian myna birds were brought over to Australia originally in 1862, to help destroy cane beetles which destroyed crops, but now the bird is at the root of east coast farmers’ hatred towards foreign wildlife.

To combat the destruction and high costs the myna bird is causing, an estimated AS$300 million per year, 35 community groups and 30 councils will meet to discuss how to best reduce the myna birds presence in Australia.

Not only is the myna bird harmful to farm croplands, but it also is a territorial bird that attacks other native breeds of Australian birds, preventing nesting hollows from being formed, and preying on young chicks and eggs of other breeds.

Councils and local community members have gone as far as spending $5000 to kill just two myna birds by setting traps in backyards and luring the birds with dog food into a trap laced with pest controllers.

Tony Peacock, a professor and head of the Canberra Invasive Species Cooperative Research Center, commented that hate does not begin to describe how Australians feel about foreign creatures they consider pests.

According to Peacock, Australians hate invasive species due to their upbringing as a natural hate has been inbreed as they watch family members struggle with them.

The myna bird does not top the list of the most hated invasive species however, as it only ranks seven on the list currently with rabbits and cane toads much higher on the list.

Peacock points to Australians’ love and recognition for unique wildlife, such as koalas and kangaroos as the reason why simple creatures, such as cane toads, rabbits, and myna birds are commonly hated throughout the countryside.