Ecotone graduate ecologist Alex Sinchak shows the trap deployed to catch the highly invasive Indian myna birds. Photo: Supplied.
Weipa is being asked to keep its eyes peeled after several unwelcome Indian myna birds were successfully trapped earlier this month, with more still on the loose.
Featuring on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of the 100 most invasive species in the world, the Indian mynas have a track record of having a significant detrimental impact on native bird species.
After a pair was discovered two months ago in Weipa for what community leaders said was the first time, Ecotone Flora and Fauna Consultants moved to ensure the invasive species did not become an issue in the western Cape York township.
“Ecotone purchased four traps, so that if any more birds were located, we could respond swiftly to that,” owner and manager Lauren Dibben said.
After locating an Indian myna nest, the team was able to trap one breeding adult and its chicks, but Ms Dibben said the breeding partner was still at large.
“When a nest is detected, you’ve got a little more leverage for trapping the adult birds, because you know they’re going back to that one place daily,” she said.
“They’re also staying at it over the night, so the fact that there’s usually one adult in the nest at night with the chicks or on the eggs allows you to be able to trap them then.”
After trapping the female, she said they tried to trap the male at the nest as well, but couldn’t wait any longer for ethical reasons.
“We gave it as long as possible ethics-wise, since there’s only one parent tending to the chicks,” Ms Dibben explained.
“Even though they’re a pest animal, you can’t be cruel about it, so we were making sure he was still feeding the chicks, and we were trying to trap him at the nest, but he kind of got savvy on us pretty quick and avoided all [trapping] attempts.
“It got to the stage where those chicks were almost ready for fledging, and we were just going to create a bigger problem if we drew it out any longer and those chicks flew out of the nest.”
Ms Dibben said another nest was located and removed by a member of the public in consultation with Ecotone.
“I think there is potential there’s others already, but you’re looking for a needle in a haystack, so the assistance from the Weipa community is a massive leg-up,” she said.
“Without it, we don’t have the resources to just be sending people out searching for these birds, and they tend to hang around town locations, so members of the public are able to be helpful with this.”
Weipa residents are being asked to tip off Ecotone Flora and Fauna Consultants if they see any easily-identifiable Indian myna birds around town. Photo: Supplied.
