A CENTRAL West Indian Myna Action Group has been established in the region to raise awareness of the potential impacts of the Indian myna and ways to stop it from establishing in central west NSW.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pest species has only recently been seen for the first time in the central west.
The group consists of representatives from Central West Local Land Services, local government, Landcare, the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre and both the Dubbo and Cudgegong Field Naturalists Societies.
Group spokesperson from the Cudgegong Field Naturalists Society John McCrea said Indian mynas had become well established along the eastern coast of NSW since they were introduced to Australia in the 1860s.
"These birds have been spotted in various parts of our region including Dubbo, Dunedoo and Mudgee,'' he said.
"They must be stopped and our newly-formed group can help raise awareness by educating people how to identify the bird, report it and control it."
Known for their aggressive and territorial nature, Indian mynas out-compete native birds for food, water and shelter. They cause flood and fire damage in houses by nesting in roof cavities and can carry diseases and mites affecting humans.
"To the landholder this bird damages horticultural fruit, cereal crops and stock feed, spreads agricultural weeds and fouls water supplies," Mr McCrea said.
"We have to stop this bird getting further inland throughout our area."
Mr McCrea said there were many lessons to be learned from other people who were successfully controlling the Indian myna. By taking action now many of our native plants and animals will benefit.
"Our new group will promote awareness of the risks that this pest bird poses and can work with the community to prevent the establishment of this unwanted pest bird," he said.
Project leader with the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre and NSW Department of Primary Industries, Peter West, introduced the group to a mobile website for the community known as MynaScan (www.feralscan.org.au/mynascan).
"MynaScan is an interactive mobile website that anyone can use to record sightings of this pest bird," Mr West said.
"The website can be used in conjunction with the freely downloadable mobile phone app The Field Guide to Pest Animals of Australia to help people to correctly identify the Indian myna and other pest animals.
Mr West said correctly identifying the Indian myna bird was critical as there were many protected native birds that could be mistaken for the Indian myna.
"If you think you have seen an Indian myna, contact your local council and the group spokesperson," he said.
The group aims to meet quarterly and group leader John McCrea welcomes questions and information about any sightings of the bird.