MAJOR HELP NEEDED FOR A MYNA PROBLEM!

10 Jun 2021

SEEKING YOUR HELP WITH RECORDING AN INVASIVE BIRD SPECIES!

A Common Myna, AKA Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) was sighted in Thurgoona yesterday, crossing Kerr Rd just south of Thurgoona Drive.

The sighting was made by Rob Fenton, head lecturer at the National Environment Centre.

As many of you know, this introduced bird has not yet colonised Albury Wodonga, and our community MUST do everything it can to STOP it happening!

Yesterday's sighting has been added to Albury Wodonga Nature Map (AWNM) - https://albury-wodonga.naturemapr.org/sightings/4384227

This is the first record on AWNM, and a Facebook Post yesterday by Albury Conservation Company triggered a lively conversation with locals who have seen them in Wodonga for a couple of years, and at various places recently around Albury - including Thurgoona (e.g. Woolworths loading bay) and Table Top.

It seems that the small number of registered sightings don't accurately reflect the full extent of the bird's presence in Albury Wodonga.

This is why WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP!

Please be on the LOOK-OUT and RECORD this species.

These birds are seriously bad news for our native birds and other small animals. They are fiercely territorial and use their numbers to aggressively defend their territory. During the breeding season they take over tree hollows from native birds and small animals (such as Squirrel gliders) after harassing and evicting them. They build and defend several nests during the breeding season although they only use one nest — this excludes native hollow nesting birds and animals from those nesting sites. They kill chicks and destroy the eggs of native birds.

Please TAKE A PHOTO and UPLOAD YOUR SIGHTING to Albury Wodonga Nature Map.

The data your provide will be immediately visible on NatureMapr, and will be harvested by the Atlas of Living Australia.

This is the first step to getting a handle of the extent of the problem, with the next step being to bring together key stakeholders and community to develop a plan to tackle it.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

11 comments

KylieWaldon wrote:

12 Jun 2021

WOW. I've never seen one in my local area, but I have friends at Corowa who have seen them there. I've only just realised that "Myna" and "Miner" are different. Does that mean that the Noisy Miner and Yellow Throated Miner are ok, and only the Indian Myna that is a concern?

KylieWaldon wrote:

22 Aug 2021

I've been back to that area 5 times now and still no Indian Myna. Sad face.

annabowman wrote:

19 Feb 2022

Saw Indian Mynas yesterday along Happy Valley Rd west of the Carrols Road turn off.

GrantedNickel wrote:

23 Mar 2022

Single Indian Myna spotted foraging at Albury Waste Management Centre on 22/03/22 at approx. 2pm.

KylieWaldon wrote:

18 Jun 2022

Now I've seen quite a few. No photos though. They are usually on the sides of roads and by the time I pull over, get my camera out of the boot and run back they have gone.

KylieWaldon wrote:

6 Mar 2023

They seem to be sighted alot at schools. Why? They eat insects don't they? What is it about schools that gives them a food supply and can that be improved on at all?

KylieWaldon wrote:

12 May 2023

they are still in and around Wodonga. One to four birds together. South and West. Usually see them when I am driving.

KylieWaldon wrote:

26 Jun 2023

there's another group over at the Victory school Drapers Road area in Wodonga. I thought they didn't like the cold but they are still in and around Oakmont Circuit.

KylieWaldon wrote:

21 Nov 2023

they seemed to have disappeared now from the Victory School area.

annabowman wrote:

22 Nov 2023

Saw one Indian Myna yesterday near Tangambalanga intersection with Murray Valley Hwy while driving.

KylieWaldon wrote:

1 Jan 2024

Jeez. I'm slow. I've just got the joke with major and myna!

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