By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
YARRA Ranges Councillor Andrew Witlox has introduced a proposal for a capture and disposal program to control the Indian myna population in the shire.
The Chirnside ward councillor introduced the motion at a council meeting on 23 July.
Max Caithness, committee member Yarra Indian Myna Action Group (YIMAG) said this decision was a positive move for the control of the pest species.
“This is a good step forward in the control of Indian mynas. Bayside and Casey councils already have some formalised control of Indian mynas,” he said.
“Eventually, there will be a lot more councils that sit up and take notice.”
The details of the program will be based off a similar program run by Cardinia Shire Council that was introduced at the beginning of June this year.
Indian mynas are an introduced and aggressive bird that threaten native species that cause damage to buildings, and have been known to damage to fruit and grain crops.
“The damage caused by these birds can be significant,” Mr Caithness said.
“Vineyards can be damaged as they eat the fruit off the vines. They attack native birds too, driving rosellas away from their nests, attacking blue wrens and tearing nests of pied magpie larks apart.”
The pest birds are native to the Indian sub-continent and were introduced to Australian market gardens in the 1860s to control insects.
Later they were introduced to Cairns and other places in far north Queensland to control insects in cane fields.
The birds are now prevalent and endemic across the east coast of Australia.
Yarra Ranges residents will be encouraged to build their own traps in workshops supported by council.
Euthanasia of the birds must be conducted using RSPCA approved methods such as, cervical dislocation (breaking the neck) or carbon monoxide poisoning.
